Neighbors Quote by Rachel Caine
““I’d made a point of meeting our closest neighbors the first week we moved in, because it seemed like a good precaution to assess them early for threats, or as possible resources in an emergency. I don’t count the Johansens as either. They are just . . . there. Most people just take up space anyway. The whisper comes and goes in my head, and it frightens me, because I hate remembering Melvin Royal’s voice. That was nothing he’d ever said at home, ever said to me, but I’d seen the video of him saying it at the trial. He’d said it utterly casually about the women he’d torn apart.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Morganville Vampires series, 2006
The narrator evaluates neighbors as potential threats or allies, but feels alienated and haunted by past trauma.
In simple terms: Assessing people can feel like a survival tactic, yet fear can dominate perception.
Key Takeaway
Beware letting past trauma cloud present judgments.
Themes
trust
fear
survival
isolation
trauma
Mood
anxious
reflective
Type
narrative
psychological
When to use this quote
- moving into a new community
- evaluating neighbors
- dealing with PTSD
- making emergency plans
Key Concepts
social assessment
psychological safety
Questions to Reflect On
- How does fear shape your view of new acquaintances?
- Can you separate past trauma from present reality?
A Different Perspective
The narrator’s distrust may overlook genuine help, and fear can become self‑fulfilling.
