---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I sit by the bed with an aching back, and…"
description: "\"“I sit by the bed with an aching back, and start to cry as I pick up the notebook. I am tired now, so I sit, alone and apart from my wife. And when the..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/nicholas-sparks-93_crying_i-sit-by-the-bed-with-an-aching-back-and_3233605.jpg"
---

#  I sit by the bed with an aching back, and start to cry as…

![“I sit by the bed with an aching back, and start to cry as I pick up the notebook. I am tired now, so I sit, alone and apart from my wife. And when the nurses come in they see two people they must comfort. A woman shaking in fear and the old man who loves her more deeply than life itself crying…” quote by Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/nicholas-sparks-93_crying_i-sit-by-the-bed-with-an-aching-back-and_3233605.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/nicholas-sparks-93_crying_i-sit-by-the-bed-with-an-aching-back-and_3233605.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/nicholas-sparks-93_crying_i-sit-by-the-bed-with-an-aching-back-and_3233605.jpg)

> ““I sit by the bed with an aching back, and start to cry as I pick up the notebook. I am tired now, so I sit, alone and apart from my wife. And when the nurses come in they see two people they must comfort. A woman shaking in fear and the old man who loves her more deeply than life itself crying softly in the corner, his face in his hands.””

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A caregiver feels deep sorrow and isolation while caring for a loved one, highlighting the emotional toll of illness and the need for compassion.

**In simple terms:** A caregiver is sad and lonely caring for a loved one.

Key Takeaway

Offer empathy and support to those suffering.

Themes

caregiving grief loneliness compassion

Mood

sad reflective

Type

narrative emotional

When to use this quote

- hospital bedside
- home care
- family support

Key Concepts

emotional burden spousal love hospital setting

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you provide comfort to someone in deep grief?
- What small acts can ease a caregiver’s loneliness?

A Different Perspective

Emotional pain can be overwhelming without external help.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bed Aching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bed-aching-1722394/) [Comfort Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort-woman-294037/) [Crying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crying/) [Life Crying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-crying-350851/) [Life itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-itself/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [People Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-comfort-344670/)

## Related quotes

> [“I continue to stare, my eyes missing nothing, remembering the moments we just shared together. But in all that time she does not look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-continue-to-stare-my-eyes-missing-nothing-remembering-the-moments/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [“I get up Aching, and I go to bed Aching,' she whispered to herself, smiling. One of her father's jokes, and she had rolled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-get-up-aching-and-i-go-to-bed-aching-she-whispered-to-herself/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [A real man knows how to comfort his woman in good or bad situations. He's one of the reasons why she's always smiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/green-monk/a-real-man-knows-how-to-comfort-his-woman-in-good-or-bad-situations/)

[Green Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/green-monk/)

> [The great and almost only comfort about being a woman is that one can always pretend to be more stupid than one is and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/the-great-and-almost-only-comfort-about-being-a-woman-is-that-one-can/)

[Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/)

> [“It did not seem possible, much as he craved the comfort of a woman of intelligence, of humor and balance and perception.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/it-did-not-seem-possible-much-as-he-craved-the-comfort-of-a-woman-of/)

[Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/)

> [“(“ The great and almost only comfort about being a woman,” she said, “is that one can always pretend to be more stupid than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fletcher-geniesse/the-great-and-almost-only-comfort-about-being-a-woman-she-said-is/)

[Jane Fletcher Geniesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fletcher-geniesse/)

> [We can bolster human spirits, clothe cold bodies, feed hungry people, comfort grieving hearts, and lift to new heights precious souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/we-can-bolster-human-spirits-clothe-cold-bodies-feed-hungry-people/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [There's always something in Atlanta that's so far from people's comfort zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/metro-boomin/there-s-always-something-in-atlanta-that-s-so-far-from-people-s/)

[Metro Boomin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/metro-boomin/)

> [People find comfort in boxes, is really what I've learned, and people found comfort in the bubbles they were filling out for standardized tests.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-zegler/people-find-comfort-in-boxes-is-really-what-i-ve-learned-and-people/)

[Rachel Zegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-zegler/)

> [There is always something to do. There are hungry people to feed, naked people to clothe, sick people to comfort and make well. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/there-is-always-something-to-do-there-are-hungry-people-to-feed-naked/)

[Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/)

> [I get people out of their comfort zones. I take them to places they don't like to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-smith/i-get-people-out-of-their-comfort-zones-i-take-them-to-places-they/)

[Anthony Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-smith/)

> [“Some people you can't comfort. You can only go along with their pretending and pretend yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-ann-grau/some-people-you-can-t-comfort-you-can-only-go-along-with-their/)

[Shirley Ann Grau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-ann-grau/)

> [“Some people find comfort in the past. Others seek comfort in the future. Very few consider the most beautiful place and time: here and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-marques/some-people-find-comfort-in-the-past-others-seek-comfort-in-the/)

[Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/)

> [People get comfort from music. They get joy from it and understanding from it, and most of all, the average person can't do without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/people-get-comfort-from-music-they-get-joy-from-it-and-understanding/)

[Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/)

> [When you watch movies and you see people cry from happiness, I've never cried from happiness before in my life. So when I'm crying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-edwards/when-you-watch-movies-and-you-see-people-cry-from-happiness-i-ve/)

[Leon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-edwards/)

## More by Nicholas Sparks

> [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [“Nothing is ever lost nor can be lost; the body aged, sluggish,cold… the embers left from earlier fires shall dully flame again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/nothing-is-ever-lost-nor-can-be-lost-the-body-aged-sluggish-cold-the/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [I'm sure you think that I don't understand what you're going through, but I do. It's just that sometimes, our future is dictated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-m-sure-you-think-that-i-don-t-understand-what-you-re-going-through/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [“You weren't out there that long, were you? I can't bear to think that no one found you right away." Noah shook his head.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-weren-t-out-there-that-long-were-you-i-can-t-bear-to-think-that/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [“And in your smile, I will live forever”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/and-in-your-smile-i-will-live-forever/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [When we first met, I didn't want to get involved with anyone. I didn't have the time or energy, and I wasn't sure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/when-we-first-met-i-didn-t-want-to-get-involved-with-anyone-i-didn-t/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [“There is something terrible in the moments after waking up, when the subconscious knows that something terrible has happened but before all the memories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-is-something-terrible-in-the-moments-after-waking-up-when-the/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [There is nothing like love. You should try it.” Thibault shrugged. “Maybe one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-is-nothing-like-love-you-should-try-it-thibault-shrugged-maybe/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [“more time she’d spent with him, the more convinced she became that he was by far the sexiest guy she’d ever met. Who else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/more-time-she-d-spent-with-him-the-more-convinced-she-became-that-he/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [Dear John, tell me everything. Write it all down, that way, we’ll be with each other all the time, even if we’re not with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/dear-john-tell-me-everything-write-it-all-down-that-way-we-ll-be-with/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [You were spying on us?" "It was kind of hard not to. You were right there by the workshop with Will. it looked like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-were-spying-on-us-it-was-kind-of-hard-not-to-you-were-right-there/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [There are lots of real men out there - men who could fall in love with you at the drop of a hat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-are-lots-of-real-men-out-there-men-who-could-fall-in-love-with/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [...nothing wonderful lasted forever. Joy was as fleeting as a shooting star that crossed the evening sky, ready to blink out at any moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/nothing-wonderful-lasted-forever-joy-was-as-fleeting-as-a-shooting/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [He put his arms around her. “Well, in my defense, then, whatever I did seemed to work, didn't it?” She sighed. “I suppose.” “You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/he-put-his-arms-around-her-well-in-my-defense-then-whatever-i-did/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [I don't know. I really don't. While I was in the living room, I kept asking myself what I really wanted in life." She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-don-t-know-i-really-don-t-while-i-was-in-the-living-room-i-kept/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

[Explore all 1,309 Nicholas Sparks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

## More Crying quotes

> [U dount need eny cuz when u get in a relaishondhip u love it forever not for crying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-athors-name-i-made-it/u-dount-need-eny-cuz-when-u-get-in-a-relaishondhip-u-love-it-forever/)

[No Athors Name I Made It](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-athors-name-i-made-it/)

> [Skies are crying, I am watching Catching tear drops in my hands Only silence as it's ending Like we never had a chance Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/skies-are-crying-i-am-watching-catching-tear-drops-in-my-hands-only/)

[Unkown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkown/)

> [ That's probably why my face was looking so crazy when I was crying \[in "Hardball"\] because it was some real. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/that-s-probably-why-my-face-was-looking-so-crazy-when-i-was-crying-in/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [And then theres always the crying and the weeping that we hear-children, women, even men. And these images and these sounds are always with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/and-then-theres-always-the-crying-and-the-weeping-that-we-hear/)

[Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/)

> [Maybe that was why she couldn't cry, she realized, staring dry-eyed at the ceiling. Because what was the point in crying when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/maybe-that-was-why-she-couldn-t-cry-she-realized-staring-dry-eyed-at/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying or getting overly angry or to maintain control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/sometimes-you-have-to-laugh-to-keep-from-crying-or-getting-overly/)

[Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/)

> [“I swallow hard and yank out my earbuds. I push the tears back down. I'm sick of crying every time I see or hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-woodfolk/i-swallow-hard-and-yank-out-my-earbuds-i-push-the-tears-back-down-i-m/)

[Ashley Woodfolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-woodfolk/)

> [“I’m desperate to prevent her tears, but not because I’m noble or anything. I’m kind of a contagion cryer. You know how when one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-yoon/i-m-desperate-to-prevent-her-tears-but-not-because-i-m-noble-or/)

[Nicola Yoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-yoon/)

> [When you are not there in my life its like: Shoes without shoe laces A letter without a stamp A flower with no roots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-are-not-there-in-my-life-its-like-shoes-without-shoe-laces-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When you watch movies and you see people cry from happiness, I've never cried from happiness before in my life. So when I'm crying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-edwards/when-you-watch-movies-and-you-see-people-cry-from-happiness-i-ve/)

[Leon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-edwards/)

> [I love walking in rain coz no one knows that I m crying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idreesbhat/i-love-walking-in-rain-coz-no-one-knows-that-i-m-crying/)

[Idreesbhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idreesbhat/)

> [You took my happiness with you and left this horrible sadness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-took-my-happiness-with-you-and-left-this-horrible-sadness/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Break up was not made for you to cry.. But to take you away from the wrong man who you thought was the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/break-up-was-not-made-for-you-to-cry-but-to-take-you-away-from-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [While the godly father and mother spews poison, the baby crying for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/while-the-godly-father-and-mother-spews-poison-the-baby-crying-for/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I lay on my floor crying again¦ shaking. Searching for inner strength and coming up empty. My eyes burned and my mouth was dry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-daniels/i-lay-on-my-floor-crying-again-shaking-searching-for-inner-strength/)

[Nathan Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-daniels/)

[Browse all 3,126 Crying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crying/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I sit by the bed with an aching back, and start to cry as I pick up the notebook. I am tired now, so I sit, alone and apart from my wife. And when the nurses come in they see two people they must comfort. A woman shaking in fear and the old man who loves her more deeply than life itself crying softly in the corner, his face in his hands.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Nicholas Sparks"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-sit-by-the-bed-with-an-aching-back-and-start-to-cry-as-i-pick-up/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Crying"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-sit-by-the-bed-with-an-aching-back-and-start-to-cry-as-i-pick-up/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/nicholas-sparks-93_crying_i-sit-by-the-bed-with-an-aching-back-and_3233605.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/nicholas-sparks-93_crying_i-sit-by-the-bed-with-an-aching-back-and_3233605.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/nicholas-sparks-93_crying_i-sit-by-the-bed-with-an-aching-back-and_3233605.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I sit by the bed with an aching back, and start to cry as I pick up the notebook. I am tired now, so I sit…” — Nicholas Sparks",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Nicholas Sparks",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I sit by the bed with...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-sit-by-the-bed-with-an-aching-back-and-start-to-cry-as-i-pick-up/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-sit-by-the-bed-with-an-aching-back-and-start-to-cry-as-i-pick-up/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
