--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What were you running away from, Emma?\"…" description: "\"“What were you running away from, Emma?\" he asked, seeing right through my answer. \"Me,\" I answered honestly, avoiding his gaze. He waited for me to co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26d/rebecca-donovan-3163_time_what-were-you-running-away-from-emma-he_475028.jpg" --- # What were you running away from, Emma?" he asked, seeing… ![“What were you running away from, Emma?" he asked, seeing right through my answer. "Me," I answered honestly, avoiding his gaze. He waited for me to continue. I took a deep breath and said, "I don't want the past to define me anymore. I don't want what happened to me, or all the wrong decisions…” quote by Rebecca Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26d/rebecca-donovan-3163_time_what-were-you-running-away-from-emma-he_475028.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26d/rebecca-donovan-3163_time_what-were-you-running-away-from-emma-he_475028.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26d/rebecca-donovan-3163_time_what-were-you-running-away-from-emma-he_475028.jpg) > ““What were you running away from, Emma?" he asked, seeing right through my answer. "Me," I answered honestly, avoiding his gaze. He waited for me to continue. I took a deep breath and said, "I don't want the past to define me anymore. I don't want what happened to me, or all the wrong decisions I've made to keep me from becoming someone better. I want to be better.”” [Rebecca Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-donovan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A speaker confronts personal history, refusing to be defined by past mistakes and seeks self‑improvement. **In simple terms:** I refuse to let my past define me; I aim to improve. Key Takeaway Choose growth over past regrets. Themes self‑improvement redemption identity courage Mood reflective determined Type personal motivational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - personal journaling - conflict resolution - self‑reflection Key Concepts personal narrative psychological honesty Questions to Reflect On - What past mistake still haunts you? - How can you actively rewrite your self‑story? A Different Perspective The past may still influence present choices despite intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wrong decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-decisions/) ## Related quotes > [I mean, I would have loved to have kept on being a big television star. If that's the way things would have broke, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabe-kaplan/i-mean-i-would-have-loved-to-have-kept-on-being-a-big-television-star/) [Gabe Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabe-kaplan/) > [“Why would I seek to break your heart?” “Because you can be a merciless bastard at times,” I answered honestly. A smile flitted across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/why-would-i-seek-to-break-your-heart-because-you-can-be-a-merciless/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [“She asked me if I was seeing anybody else, and I said, No, the other woman is invisible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/she-asked-me-if-i-was-seeing-anybody-else-and-i-said-no-the-other/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [What are you gonna say?" Emma asked. " 'I'm not sure I want you back, but I'm sure I don't want your ex-con ex-girlfriend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/what-are-you-gonna-say-emma-asked-i-m-not-sure-i-want-you-back-but-i/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [“So what you’re saying is Nate isn’t sex on a stick?” Emma asked. Casey chuckled. “Nate is barely sex on a low fat wheat-thin.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ashley/so-what-you-re-saying-is-nate-isn-t-sex-on-a-stick-emma-asked-casey/) [Katie Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ashley/) > [There's guys out there having to do things to meet ends. They're reduced to making the wrong decisions and taking the wrong path, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morrison/there-s-guys-out-there-having-to-do-things-to-meet-ends-they-re/) [Mark Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morrison/) > [“In life, time can't stand still and it's unrealistic to attempt to create a state where it does. There again, time passes all too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-north/in-life-time-can-t-stand-still-and-it-s-unrealistic-to-attempt-to/) [Freya North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-north/) > [“You see, the best thing about wrong decisions is that they don’t prevent you from making the right decisions later on. It’s harder, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siobhan-vivian/you-see-the-best-thing-about-wrong-decisions-is-that-they-don-t/) [Siobhan Vivian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siobhan-vivian/) > [“Changing your name, it doesn’t change your nature. Look at Sebastian—Jonathan. Calling himself Sebastian didn’t make any difference in the end. I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/changing-your-name-it-doesn-t-change-your-nature-look-at-sebastian/) [cassandra clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [You need someone to guide you otherwise you end up taking wrong decisions and that doesn't really help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nidhhi-agerwal/you-need-someone-to-guide-you-otherwise-you-end-up-taking-wrong/) [Nidhhi Agerwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nidhhi-agerwal/) > [I know what happens to people who get bullied, they end up thinking they really are no good! It doesn't matter that they work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-what-happens-to-people-who-get-bullied-they-end-up-thinking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I always make the wrong decisions so I have something to tweet about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-always-make-the-wrong-decisions-so-i-have-something-to-tweet-about/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“They say life makes you tired, but if you ask life, it will say to you: You had wrong thoughts, you made wrong decisions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/they-say-life-makes-you-tired-but-if-you-ask-life-it-will-say-to-you/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [What is d secret of success? Right Decisions. How do u make right decisions? Experience. How do u get experience? Wrong Decisions!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-is-d-secret-of-success-right-decisions-how-do-u-make-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“people say that life is a battle ground and we are warriors.. but what I understood about life is that:- it doesn't operates us..…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katyayani-kumari/people-say-that-life-is-a-battle-ground-and-we-are-warriors-but-what/) KATYAYANI KUMARI ## More by Rebecca Donovan > [“I sat in the driver's seat and looked over at her again. The pale light of the night softened the lines of her face,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-donovan/i-sat-in-the-driver-s-seat-and-looked-over-at-her-again-the-pale/) [Rebecca Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-donovan/) > [“My fists clenched, I fought the pain and anger coursing through me. I turned towards Emma's door and set my hands on either side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-donovan/my-fists-clenched-i-fought-the-pain-and-anger-coursing-through-me-i/) [Rebecca Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-donovan/) > [“I stilled with those words. His words. My heart pounded faster just hearing them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-donovan/i-stilled-with-those-words-his-words-my-heart-pounded-faster-just/) [Rebecca Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-donovan/) > [“I knew in that moment, I would never love anyone in my life the way I loved Evan Mathews.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-donovan/i-knew-in-that-moment-i-would-never-love-anyone-in-my-life-the-way-i/) [Rebecca Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-donovan/) > [“It always comes back to forgiving, doesn't it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-donovan/it-always-comes-back-to-forgiving-doesn-t-it/) [Rebecca Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-donovan/) > [“I can still run faster," I murmured, my lips pressed against his smooth skin. Evan laughed softly in my ear and whispered, "But you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-donovan/i-can-still-run-faster-i-murmured-my-lips-pressed-against-his-smooth/) [Rebecca Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-donovan/) > [“As my eyes slide shut,I'm thinking about second chances,knowing that the one I wished for tonight is lying next to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-donovan/as-my-eyes-slide-shut-i-m-thinking-about-second-chances-knowing-that/) [Rebecca Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-donovan/) > [“Was better to try and fail, than to never have the experience?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-donovan/was-better-to-try-and-fail-than-to-never-have-the-experience/) [Rebecca Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-donovan/) > [“I needed to go. To leave here. To get away from him…and that kiss. That kiss that ignited a craving I didn’t know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-donovan/i-needed-to-go-to-leave-here-to-get-away-from-him-and-that-kiss-that/) [Rebecca Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-donovan/) > [“I stared at the flames licking at the darkness and everything was lost as I sank deeper into nothingness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-donovan/i-stared-at-the-flames-licking-at-the-darkness-and-everything-was/) [Rebecca Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-donovan/) > [“The only thing missing is a pool." "It's on the roof," Evan blurted before I could say anything. "Really?!" Sara practically squealed with excitement.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-donovan/the-only-thing-missing-is-a-pool-it-s-on-the-roof-evan-blurted-before/) [Rebecca Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-donovan/) > [“I can't..." Her voice broke. "I can't do this any more." "Then I'll do it for you," I rasped, my throat closing. "Let me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-donovan/i-can-t-her-voice-broke-i-can-t-do-this-any-more-then-i-ll-do-it-for/) [Rebecca Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-donovan/) > [“You can breathe, Emma," I teased. "Stop thinking of me naked and breathe." "Evan!" she hollered, yanking her foot away. I started laughing. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-donovan/you-can-breathe-emma-i-teased-stop-thinking-of-me-naked-and-breathe/) [Rebecca Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-donovan/) > [“I'll have to warn you, my cousins are Satan's spawn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-donovan/i-ll-have-to-warn-you-my-cousins-are-satan-s-spawn/) [Rebecca Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-donovan/) > [“I love him more than he will ever know. And because of that, I choose his happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-donovan/i-love-him-more-than-he-will-ever-know-and-because-of-that-i-choose/) [Rebecca Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-donovan/) [Explore all 138 Rebecca Donovan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-donovan/) ## More Asked quotes > [“Are you sure?" he asked in a low voice. "Because if I had the chance... I would spend every moment of every day with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-monir/are-you-sure-he-asked-in-a-low-voice-because-if-i-had-the-chance-i/) [Alexandra Monir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-monir/) > [“Who tricked me into this whole thing and leaves me standing here? Who am I? How did I get into the world? Why was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/who-tricked-me-into-this-whole-thing-and-leaves-me-standing-here-who/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“The best questions are ones never asked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cory-molloy/the-best-questions-are-ones-never-asked/) Robert Cory Molloy > [A lot of people think I'm snotty. So what? They never asked me out when I was serving cheeseburgers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-moriarty/a-lot-of-people-think-i-m-snotty-so-what-they-never-asked-me-out-when/) [Cathy Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-moriarty/) > [I've been so lucky with the people I've worked with, but I'm such a fan girl. When I moved to London at 16, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheridan-smith/i-ve-been-so-lucky-with-the-people-i-ve-worked-with-but-i-m-such-a/) [Sheridan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheridan-smith/) > [For me to even be talking about bikini confidence is crazy. If you had asked me a couple of months ago, I probably would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordin-sparks/for-me-to-even-be-talking-about-bikini-confidence-is-crazy-if-you-had/) [Jordin Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordin-sparks/) > [Only once have I been made mute. It was when a man asked me, 'Who are you?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/only-once-have-i-been-made-mute-it-was-when-a-man-asked-me-who-are-you/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [The only thing Steve Jobs has ever asked me in all the years we've been together and have been partners, the only thing he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/the-only-thing-steve-jobs-has-ever-asked-me-in-all-the-years-we-ve/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“A girl likes to be asked, dumbass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-stover/a-girl-likes-to-be-asked-dumbass/) [Matthew Stover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-stover/) > [I've been asked to school dances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wolfhard/i-ve-been-asked-to-school-dances/) [Finn Wolfhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wolfhard/) > [“Which to you have?' Mel asked, blocking the entry with his body. 'Talent or issues?' I paused for a moment, thought about this. 'Both,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/which-to-you-have-mel-asked-blocking-the-entry-with-his-body-talent/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [“Did you find someone who makes you feel all those things?” she asked, not wanting to think of her own failed union. He locked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-rossi/did-you-find-someone-who-makes-you-feel-all-those-things-she-asked/) [Mila Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-rossi/) > [Hang on, did you just call me Angel?” I asked. “If I did?” “I don’t like it.” He grinned. “It stays. Angel.” He leaned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/hang-on-did-you-just-call-me-angel-i-asked-if-i-did-i-don-t-like-it/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [At first, I asked, Why me? Then I thought, Why not me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/at-first-i-asked-why-me-then-i-thought-why-not-me/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [When scientists are asked what they are working on, their response is seldom 'Finding the origin of the universe' or 'Seeking to cure cancer.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/when-scientists-are-asked-what-they-are-working-on-their-response-is/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) Browse all 2,259 Asked quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What were you running away from, Emma?\" he asked, seeing right through my answer. \"Me,\" I answered honestly, avoiding his gaze. He waited for me to continue. I took a deep breath and said, \"I don't want the past to define me anymore. I don't want what happened to me, or all the wrong decisions I've made to keep me from becoming someone better. I want to be better.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rebecca Donovan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-donovan/what-were-you-running-away-from-emma-he-asked-seeing-right-through-my/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asked" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-donovan/what-were-you-running-away-from-emma-he-asked-seeing-right-through-my/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26d/rebecca-donovan-3163_time_what-were-you-running-away-from-emma-he_475028.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26d/rebecca-donovan-3163_time_what-were-you-running-away-from-emma-he_475028.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26d/rebecca-donovan-3163_time_what-were-you-running-away-from-emma-he_475028.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What were you running away from, Emma?\" he asked, seeing right through my answer. \"Me,\" I answered honestly…” — Rebecca Donovan", "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": "Rebecca Donovan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-donovan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“What were you running away from,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-donovan/what-were-you-running-away-from-emma-he-asked-seeing-right-through-my/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-donovan/what-were-you-running-away-from-emma-he-asked-seeing-right-through-my/#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 } } ] } ```