--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cole sat back up, slowly, and I opened my…" description: "\"Cole sat back up, slowly, and I opened my eyes. His expression, as ever, was blank, the face he wore when something mattered. He said, \"That's how I wo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/maggie-stiefvater-76_blank_cole-sat-back-up-slowly-and-i-opened-my_2191700.jpg" --- # Cole sat back up, slowly, and I opened my eyes. His… ![“Cole sat back up, slowly, and I opened my eyes. His expression, as ever, was blank, the face he wore when something mattered. He said, "That's how I would kiss you, if I loved you.” quote by Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/maggie-stiefvater-76_blank_cole-sat-back-up-slowly-and-i-opened-my_2191700.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/maggie-stiefvater-76_blank_cole-sat-back-up-slowly-and-i-opened-my_2191700.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/maggie-stiefvater-76_blank_cole-sat-back-up-slowly-and-i-opened-my_2191700.jpg) > “Cole sat back up, slowly, and I opened my eyes. His expression, as ever, was blank, the face he wore when something mattered. He said, "That's how I would kiss you, if I loved you.” [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character shows emotional distance, yet reveals a tender, conditional affection, highlighting how love can be expressed indirectly. **In simple terms:** He shows love through a hesitant, conditional gesture. Key Takeaway Recognize love may be subtle and indirect. Themes love v communication vulnerability relationships Mood reflective melancholic intimate Type literary dialogue emotional When to use this quote - romantic confession - intimate moments - personal boundaries - trust building Key Concepts conditional affection emotional restraint character dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you interpret subtle signs of affection? - When does hesitation become a barrier? A Different Perspective Love expressed indirectly can be misunderstood or ignored. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blank/) [Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cole/) [Cole Sat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cole-sat-4777071/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Eyes Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes-expression-1373423/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [I loved you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-loved-you/) [Kissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kissing/) [Opened Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opened-eyes/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Kiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-kiss-962425/) [Sat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sat/) ## Related quotes > [“Beneath me, the bed tipped as Cole edged closer. I felt him lean over me. His breath, warm and measured, hit my cheek. Two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/beneath-me-the-bed-tipped-as-cole-edged-closer-i-felt-him-lean-over/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Cole,” I said, “do you think I’m lovable?” “As in ‘cuddly and’?” “As in ‘able to be loved,’” I said. Cole’s gaze was unwavering.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/cole-i-said-do-you-think-i-m-lovable-as-in-cuddly-and-as-in-able-to/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“But the princess had never seen the beautiful expression of her eyes; the expression that came into them when she was not thinking of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/but-the-princess-had-never-seen-the-beautiful-expression-of-her-eyes/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [If her eyes had no expression, it was probably because they had nothing to express. If she had few wrinkles, it was because her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/if-her-eyes-had-no-expression-it-was-probably-because-they-had/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Abominations. He did not say the last word aloud, but she felt something like pain echo through him, pity. “You sound like you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-m-alexandra/abominations-he-did-not-say-the-last-word-aloud-but-she-felt/) [D. M. Alexandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-m-alexandra/) > [Eloquence resides as much in the tone of voice, in the eyes, and in the expression of the face, as in the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/eloquence-resides-as-much-in-the-tone-of-voice-in-the-eyes-and-in-the/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“She didn’t take her eyes off him, and that expression on her scowling face demanded an answer. He cast about desperately in his mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/she-didn-t-take-her-eyes-off-him-and-that-expression-on-her-scowling/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [I loved you so much right then Sam Roth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-loved-you-so-much-right-then-sam-roth/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“When he opened his eyes, he saw that Ronan was looking at him, as he had been looking at him for months. Adam looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/when-he-opened-his-eyes-he-saw-that-ronan-was-looking-at-him-as-he/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Poor bastards," Cole said, his gaze still on the stars. "They must get pretty tired of watching us make the same damn mistakes all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/poor-bastards-cole-said-his-gaze-still-on-the-stars-they-must-get/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Da. -Cole st. Clair”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/da-cole-st-clair/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“In the end, Cole St. Clair had done what he did best. Disappeared.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/in-the-end-cole-st-clair-had-done-what-he-did-best-disappeared/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“He started to dance. And all at once, because Cole was dancing, I was dancing. And this Cole was even more persuasive than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/he-started-to-dance-and-all-at-once-because-cole-was-dancing-i-was/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Come on," Cole said. He looked back over his shoulder at Mr. Brisbane, who was looking at me with a complicated expression as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/come-on-cole-said-he-looked-back-over-his-shoulder-at-mr-brisbane-who/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Cole said, “You’re the only good thing I’ve ever done in my life.” I replied, “I’m sorry I’m such a wreck.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/cole-said-you-re-the-only-good-thing-i-ve-ever-done-in-my-life-i/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) ## More by Maggie Stiefvater > [Sam reached his hand toward mine and I automatically put my fingers in his. With a guilty little smile he pulled my hand toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/sam-reached-his-hand-toward-mine-and-i-automatically-put-my-fingers/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Once upon a time, there lived a boy, and he had to risk everything to keep what he loved. But really the story was:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/once-upon-a-time-there-lived-a-boy-and-he-had-to-risk-everything-to/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [I think-I need to ask an embarrassing question. Do you think I could borrow a pair of scrubs? I-uh-my pants-" "Oh!" Cried the poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-think-i-need-to-ask-an-embarrassing-question-do-you-think-i-could/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [We dance, we dance. You hold the thread of my soul. You spin, you spin. And you unravel the part from the whole. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/we-dance-we-dance-you-hold-the-thread-of-my-soul-you-spin-you-spin/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [It was the way she felt when she looked at the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/it-was-the-way-she-felt-when-she-looked-at-the-stars/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Mum once told Dad that vices are only vices when looked at through the frame of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/mum-once-told-dad-that-vices-are-only-vices-when-looked-at-through/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Why'd she leave so early? It's practically yesterday.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/why-d-she-leave-so-early-it-s-practically-yesterday/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [How long it takes us, each day, to know each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/how-long-it-takes-us-each-day-to-know-each-other/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“At least when he was at Aglionby he could turn over his papers to see the grades, concrete proof of his success at something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/at-least-when-he-was-at-aglionby-he-could-turn-over-his-papers-to-see/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [I'll cook the water...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-ll-cook-the-water/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“That's the one." In Puck Connolly's custody. That might be the last I see of that jacket.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/that-s-the-one-in-puck-connolly-s-custody-that-might-be-the-last-i/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“I asked,”Are you going to pick up next time I call you?” ”I did this time didn’t I?” “Say yes.” “Yes. Conditionally yes.”…... …”What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-asked-are-you-going-to-pick-up-next-time-i-call-you-i-did-this-time/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Tell me what it's like. The race." "What it's like is a battle. A mess of horses and men and blood. The fastest and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/tell-me-what-it-s-like-the-race-what-it-s-like-is-a-battle-a-mess-of/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“I felt a tickle on my skin; it took me a moment to realize that Cole was driving his die-cast Mustang up my arm.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-felt-a-tickle-on-my-skin-it-took-me-a-moment-to-realize-that-cole/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Happiness isn't something this island yields easily; the ground is too rocky and the sun too sparse for it to flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/happiness-isn-t-something-this-island-yields-easily-the-ground-is-too/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) [Explore all 1,564 Maggie Stiefvater quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) ## More Blank quotes > [I have often wondered how they manage to get return envelopes which miss, by one-quarter of an inch, fitting the blank you are supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/i-have-often-wondered-how-they-manage-to-get-return-envelopes-which/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [But that quickly faded, and he frowned. "You're bleeding," he said. "What happened?" Claire sighed and held up her wrist to show him the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/but-that-quickly-faded-and-he-frowned-you-re-bleeding-he-said-what/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [I've always been a very restless person. I work hard, spend too much time looking after my son, I dance like a mad thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-ve-always-been-a-very-restless-person-i-work-hard-spend-too-much/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“When I came back, they gave me blank looks. Some said, 'I don't think I've seen you for days.' Some not even that. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/me-a-selimovi/when-i-came-back-they-gave-me-blank-looks-some-said-i-don-t-think-i/) [Meša Selimović](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/me-a-selimovi/) > [Every man is a missionary, now and forever, for good or for evil, whether he intends or designs it or not. He may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/every-man-is-a-missionary-now-and-forever-for-good-or-for-evil/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [The acting background helped a lot when I started writing. I was training for it. In acting class they teach you about the stakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-higgins-clark/the-acting-background-helped-a-lot-when-i-started-writing-i-was/) [Carol Higgins Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-higgins-clark/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [You wind up creating from silence, like painting a picture on a blank canvas that could bring tears to somebody's eyes. As songwriters, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-atkins/you-wind-up-creating-from-silence-like-painting-a-picture-on-a-blank/) [Rodney Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-atkins/) > [“As I stare at the blank page, I am at once awash inwords but unable to find the ones I want to use.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-ryan/as-i-stare-at-the-blank-page-i-am-at-once-awash-inwords-but-unable-to/) [Carrie Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-ryan/) > [Staring at the blank page before you, Open up the dirty window, Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/staring-at-the-blank-page-before-you-open-up-the-dirty-window-let-the/) [Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/) > [Bullies enjoy dark happiness; these are the blank parts that eventually fill their minds with nothingness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-shanks/bullies-enjoy-dark-happiness-these-are-the-blank-parts-that/) [Emily Shanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-shanks/) > [History is full of blank spaces, but good stories, invariably, are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/history-is-full-of-blank-spaces-but-good-stories-invariably-are-not/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [If men's minds were like dominoes, surely his would be the double blank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse-2/if-men-s-minds-were-like-dominoes-surely-his-would-be-the-double-blank/) [P. G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse-2/) > [“There isn’t any way to be. I will meet you where you’ve gone. The cards are blank; the cards are empty there. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-notley/there-isn-t-any-way-to-be-i-will-meet-you-where-you-ve-gone-the-cards/) [Alice Notley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-notley/) > [I always thought I'd like my own tombstone to be blank. No epitaph, and no name. Well, actually, I'd like it to say 'figment.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-always-thought-i-d-like-my-own-tombstone-to-be-blank-no-epitaph-and/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) [Browse all 832 Blank quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blank/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Cole sat back up, slowly, and I opened my eyes. His expression, as ever, was blank, the face he wore when something mattered. 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