History Quote by Nina LaCour
““I need to leave something behind. Something that will stay. This room should be a historical landmark, the site of the beginning and end of Colby and Bev. Several minutes have passed, and I know that if I wait too long there will be a knock on the door and I'll have to go, but I need to leave a mark. It has to be significant enough to last, but subtle enough that the maid won't notice and wash it away. As I'm looking around I realize that I never noticed the print above the bed. It's another in the family series - a faded wedding portrait. Groom in tux. Bride with pearls. It comes off the wall easily.I set the print on the bedspread and wit eht dust on the wall with the sleeve of my hood. I take out a Sharpie from my bag. The wall has yellowed to create a perfect rectangle where the photograph must have been hanging, unremoved, for years. I fill the whiter space with this: I never got to tell you how beautiful you are. And then I return the frame to its place on the wall and go back out into the night.””
About This Quote
Source Short Story: “The Mark” (unpublished), 2023
A narrator seeks to leave a lasting, subtle mark in a room before leaving, using a personal message hidden behind a portrait.
In simple terms: Leaving a hidden message before departing.
Key Takeaway
Leave a subtle, meaningful mark.
Themes
memory
legacy
secret communication
Mood
introspective
melancholic
Type
literary
personal
When to use this quote
- hotel rooms
- temporary stays
- art installations
- personal rituals
Key Concepts
personal expression
impermanence
urban anonymity
Questions to Reflect On
- What does leaving a hidden message say about us?
- How do we balance secrecy with impact?
A Different Perspective
The act may be discovered and cause unintended consequences.
