--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was dead. That was really the only…" description: "\"“I was dead. That was really the only explanation I had for the sensation that I was lying in a comfy bed, cool, clean-smelling sheets pulled up to my ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62f/rachel-hawkins-379_quote_i-was-dead-that-was-really-the-only-expl_1109361.jpg" --- # I was dead. That was really the only explanation I had for… ![“I was dead. That was really the only explanation I had for the sensation that I was lying in a comfy bed, cool, clean-smelling sheets pulled up to my chin, and a soft hand stroking my hair. That was nice. Being dead seemed pretty sweet, all things considered. Especially if ti meant I got to nap…” quote by Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62f/rachel-hawkins-379_quote_i-was-dead-that-was-really-the-only-expl_1109361.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62f/rachel-hawkins-379_quote_i-was-dead-that-was-really-the-only-expl_1109361.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62f/rachel-hawkins-379_quote_i-was-dead-that-was-really-the-only-expl_1109361.jpg) > ““I was dead. That was really the only explanation I had for the sensation that I was lying in a comfy bed, cool, clean-smelling sheets pulled up to my chin, and a soft hand stroking my hair. That was nice. Being dead seemed pretty sweet, all things considered. Especially if ti meant I got to nap for all eternity. I snuggled deeper into the covers. The hand on my hair moved to my back, and I realized someone was singing softly. The voice was familiar, and something about it made my chest ache. Well, that was to be expected. Angels’ songs would be awfully poignant. “’I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar, when I met you…’” the voice crooned. I frowned. Was that really an appropriate song for the Heavenly Host to be- Realization crashed into me. “Mom!”” [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A narrator imagines death as a comforting escape, but confronting memories and loss makes the experience painful and poignant. **In simple terms:** Imagining death feels safe until grief surfaces. Key Takeaway Acknowledge grief rather than escape it. Themes grief comfort memory death heaven music Mood melancholic reflective haunting Type literary emotional When to use this quote - hospital - funeral - personal loss - nightmares - creative writing Key Concepts existential dread nostalgia psychology Questions to Reflect On - What does the song represent for the narrator? - How can confronting loss change perception of death? A Different Perspective Escapism can delay processing real emotions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Angels Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angels-songs-2946759/) [Dead Pretty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-pretty-583053/) [Expected Angels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expected-angels-2946760/) [Heavenly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heavenly/) [Song Heavenly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song-heavenly-2946758/) ## Related quotes > [“The hand on my hair moved to my back, and I realized someone was singing softly. The voice was familiar, and something about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/the-hand-on-my-hair-moved-to-my-back-and-i-realized-someone-was/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“God has prepared for Himself one great song of praise throughout eternity, and those who enter the community of God join in this song.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/god-has-prepared-for-himself-one-great-song-of-praise-throughout/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [When I say R&B is dead, I'm pretty much saying the creativity is gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sisqo/when-i-say-r-b-is-dead-i-m-pretty-much-saying-the-creativity-is-gone/) [Sisqo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sisqo/) > [“They're brainless girls, otherwise they wouldn't be seen dead here. They're pretty, with ugly, appealing smiles and conversations we can't hear. They breathe smoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/they-re-brainless-girls-otherwise-they-wouldn-t-be-seen-dead-here/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Once we turn, it’s new pretty, middle pretty, late pretty.” Shay dropped her arms, and her board stopped drifting. “Then dead pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/once-we-turn-it-s-new-pretty-middle-pretty-late-pretty-shay-dropped/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Heavenly Father hears your prayers, He loves you. He knows your name. He loves you beyond your ability to comprehend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/heavenly-father-hears-your-prayers-he-loves-you-he-knows-your-name-he/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [I suggest that just as self-consciousness is the goal for all the subhuman forms of life, and as group consciousness, or the consciousness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-bailey/i-suggest-that-just-as-self-consciousness-is-the-goal-for-all-the/) [Alice Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-bailey/) > [If you are to go to Christ, do not put on your good doings and feelings, or you will get nothing. Go in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/if-you-are-to-go-to-christ-do-not-put-on-your-good-doings-and/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Daily simple, sincere, and mighty prayers lift our lives to a higher spiritual altitude. In our prayers we praise God, give thanks to Him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/daily-simple-sincere-and-mighty-prayers-lift-our-lives-to-a-higher/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [Thank God for Heaven! - That's where everything will get straightened out and made right!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berg/thank-god-for-heaven-that-s-where-everything-will-get-straightened/) [David Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berg/) > [You will be at your best forever, Even now you have good moments. Occasional glimpses of your heavenly self. When you change your baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-will-be-at-your-best-forever-even-now-you-have-good-moments/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [You're so heavenly minded, you're no earthly good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/you-re-so-heavenly-minded-you-re-no-earthly-good/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [An excessive preponderance of an idealistic mood is harmful to society: it creates daydreaming, political Don Quixotism, hope for heavenly intervention. This is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henryk-sienkiewicz/an-excessive-preponderance-of-an-idealistic-mood-is-harmful-to/) [Henryk Sienkiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henryk-sienkiewicz/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [It is a sweet thing that we serve a dissatisfied God who has destinations in mind for us that we would never choose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/it-is-a-sweet-thing-that-we-serve-a-dissatisfied-god-who-has/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) ## More by Rachel Hawkins > [“Cal stepped forward, hopefully to come to my rescue. "I could toss her off the pier, Ms. Vanderlyden." Or not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/cal-stepped-forward-hopefully-to-come-to-my-rescue-i-could-toss-her/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Or maybe your magic isn't that destructive after all. The rain of Doritos, the bed thing,this...Maybe it's just that you create too big, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/or-maybe-your-magic-isn-t-that-destructive-after-all-the-rain-of/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“We headed down a narrow flight of stairs that ended at a low arch. Beyond the arch was yet another murky room. Did these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/we-headed-down-a-narrow-flight-of-stairs-that-ended-at-a-low-arch/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“I know it looks vaguely unsanitary and potentially scandalous, Nana, but I promise that Izzy and I are only pursuing noble...pursuits. We've even got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/i-know-it-looks-vaguely-unsanitary-and-potentially-scandalous-nana/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Looking back, none of this would have happened if I’d brought lip gloss the night of the Homecoming Dance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/looking-back-none-of-this-would-have-happened-if-i-d-brought-lip/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Izzy was sitting cross-legged on the couch, a paper-back book in her hands. She didn’t look up when we came in, and I wondered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/izzy-was-sitting-cross-legged-on-the-couch-a-paper-back-book-in-her/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“I knew." "What?" "I knew what you were then, Sophie. Your dad told me before the betrothal. And you told me about your grandmother,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/i-knew-what-i-knew-what-you-were-then-sophie-your-dad-told-me-before/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Welcome to The Twilight Zone!” The “Holy-crap-that’s-a-lot-of-pink” Zone would have been a more accurate description.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/welcome-to-the-twilight-zone-the-holy-crap-that-s-a-lot-of-pink-zone/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“There was an intruder on a forbidden part of the island, and the security system was compromised." Another image of Archer's sword slicing through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/there-was-an-intruder-on-a-forbidden-part-of-the-island-and-the/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Do you remember the section on controlling demons in Demonologies ? I believe it's in chapter five." "Um...no." Irritation flashed over his face. "Honestly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/do-you-remember-the-section-on-controlling-demons-in-demonologies-i/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Both of us widened our eyes and said, "Woah." Then I immediately blushed. Oh my God, had I just looked at Archer and said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/both-of-us-widened-our-eyes-and-said-woah-then-i-immediately-blushed/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Ah, Grace and Aislinn arguing. It’s like old times again,” a male voice said, sounding vaguely muffled. “Could someone take this blasted thing off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/ah-grace-and-aislinn-arguing-it-s-like-old-times-again-a-male-voice/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Why do you think Lara is Lara Casnoff, and Mrs. Casnoff is Mrs. Casnoff?” Elodie whispered as she worked her magic on the enchanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/why-do-you-think-lara-is-lara-casnoff-and-mrs-casnoff-is-mrs-casnoff/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Put simply,she freaked me the hell out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/put-simply-she-freaked-me-the-hell-out/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“When someone tells you somebody's been murdered, laughing is probably not the best response. You know, for future reference. But laughing is exactly what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/when-someone-tells-you-somebody-s-been-murdered-laughing-is-probably/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) [Explore all 614 Rachel Hawkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) ## More Heavenly quotes > [It is a sweet thing that we serve a dissatisfied God who has destinations in mind for us that we would never choose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/it-is-a-sweet-thing-that-we-serve-a-dissatisfied-god-who-has/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [An excessive preponderance of an idealistic mood is harmful to society: it creates daydreaming, political Don Quixotism, hope for heavenly intervention. This is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henryk-sienkiewicz/an-excessive-preponderance-of-an-idealistic-mood-is-harmful-to/) [Henryk Sienkiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henryk-sienkiewicz/) > [You're so heavenly minded, you're no earthly good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/you-re-so-heavenly-minded-you-re-no-earthly-good/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [You will be at your best forever, Even now you have good moments. Occasional glimpses of your heavenly self. When you change your baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-will-be-at-your-best-forever-even-now-you-have-good-moments/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Thank God for Heaven! - That's where everything will get straightened out and made right!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berg/thank-god-for-heaven-that-s-where-everything-will-get-straightened/) [David Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berg/) > [Daily simple, sincere, and mighty prayers lift our lives to a higher spiritual altitude. In our prayers we praise God, give thanks to Him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/daily-simple-sincere-and-mighty-prayers-lift-our-lives-to-a-higher/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [If you are to go to Christ, do not put on your good doings and feelings, or you will get nothing. Go in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/if-you-are-to-go-to-christ-do-not-put-on-your-good-doings-and/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [I suggest that just as self-consciousness is the goal for all the subhuman forms of life, and as group consciousness, or the consciousness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-bailey/i-suggest-that-just-as-self-consciousness-is-the-goal-for-all-the/) [Alice Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-bailey/) > [Heavenly Father hears your prayers, He loves you. He knows your name. He loves you beyond your ability to comprehend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/heavenly-father-hears-your-prayers-he-loves-you-he-knows-your-name-he/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Princes are like heavenly bodies, which cause good or evil times, and which have much veneration, but no rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/princes-are-like-heavenly-bodies-which-cause-good-or-evil-times-and/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won't, for he sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/although-we-might-settle-for-less-heavenly-father-won-t-for-he-sees/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [“An atheist is someone who is disappointed in his search of god. He is a man who strongly needed god but couldn't find him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/an-atheist-is-someone-who-is-disappointed-in-his-search-of-god-he-is/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [We must understand that God does not "love" us without liking us - through gritted teeth - as "Christian" love is sometimes thought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/we-must-understand-that-god-does-not-love-us-without-liking-us/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [There'll be no more big powers and oppressed poor - only fairness and justice for all, and eternal happiness. So if you're looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berg/there-ll-be-no-more-big-powers-and-oppressed-poor-only-fairness-and/) [David Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berg/) [Browse all 1,181 Heavenly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heavenly/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I was dead. That was really the only explanation I had for the sensation that I was lying in a comfy bed, cool, clean-smelling sheets pulled up to my chin, and a soft hand stroking my hair. That was nice. Being dead seemed pretty sweet, all things considered. Especially if ti meant I got to nap for all eternity. I snuggled deeper into the covers. The hand on my hair moved to my back, and I realized someone was singing softly. The voice was familiar, and something about it made my chest ache. Well, that was to be expected. Angels’ songs would be awfully poignant. “’I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar, when I met you…’” the voice crooned. I frowned. 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