--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And that was it. There was nothing we…" description: "\"“And that was it. There was nothing we could do. We just had to stand there, watching as they dropped bombs on thirty years of work, killed everyone to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b31/tahereh-mafi-229_every-day_and-that-was-it-there-was-nothing-we-cou_2908753.png" --- # And that was it. There was nothing we could do. We just… ![“And that was it. There was nothing we could do. We just had to stand there, watching as they dropped bombs on thirty years of work, killed everyone too young or too old to fight back, and then massacred the rest of our team on the field.” He clenches his hand around mine. “I come back here every…” quote by Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b31/tahereh-mafi-229_every-day_and-that-was-it-there-was-nothing-we-cou_2908753.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b31/tahereh-mafi-229_every-day_and-that-was-it-there-was-nothing-we-cou_2908753.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b31/tahereh-mafi-229_every-day_and-that-was-it-there-was-nothing-we-cou_2908753.png) > ““And that was it. There was nothing we could do. We just had to stand there, watching as they dropped bombs on thirty years of work, killed everyone too young or too old to fight back, and then massacred the rest of our team on the field.” He clenches his hand around mine. “I come back here every day,” he says. “Hoping someone will show up. Hoping to find something to take back.” He stops then, voice tight with emotion. “And here you are. This shit doesn’t even seem real.” I squeeze his fingers—gently, this time—and huddle closer to him. “We’re going to be okay, Kenji. I promise. We’ll stick together. We’ll get through this.”” [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Despair can be mitigated by shared hope and mutual support during trauma. **In simple terms:** Hope and companionship help survive loss. Key Takeaway Seek connection when facing overwhelming loss. Themes grief hope friendship Mood somber hopeful Type literary emotional When to use this quote - war zones - personal loss - support groups Key Concepts Trauma recovery human resilience Questions to Reflect On - What does “something to take back” mean to you? - How can you offer tangible help? A Different Perspective Hope may feel insufficient without concrete action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bombs Thirty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bombs-thirty-4177919/) [Dropped Bombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dropped-bombs-3700750/) [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Ignite-me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignite-me/) [Juliette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/juliette/) [Kenji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kenji/) [Kenji Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kenji-promise-4177916/) [Okay Kenji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/okay-kenji-4177917/) [Says Hoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-hoping-4177918/) [Stick together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stick-together/) [Thirty years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirty-years/) ## Related quotes > [“He won’t stop staring. “What?” I ask. “How much do you weigh?” “Wow. Is that how you talk to every girl you meet? 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I don't think I ever went through that phase.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/invisible-guns-huh-kenji-smirks-that-s-cute-i-don-t-think-i-ever-went/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Are you kidding?” I stop in the middle of the kitchen. Spin around. My face is pulled together in disbelief. “You’ve spoken to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/are-you-kidding-i-stop-in-the-middle-of-the-kitchen-spin-around-my/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [Even if I could talk face to face with the pilot who dropped the bombs I would tell him, 'We cannot change history, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/even-if-i-could-talk-face-to-face-with-the-pilot-who-dropped-the/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [“Have you ever had a girlfriend, Kenji?" "What?" He looks mortally offended. "Do I look like the kind of guy who's never had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/have-you-ever-had-a-girlfriend-kenji-what-he-looks-mortally-offended/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Damn,” Kenji says after a moment. “Damn damn damn. This shit is bananas”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/damn-kenji-says-after-a-moment-damn-damn-damn-this-shit-is-bananas/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“What?” I cut him off. “That’s not true—I do take this seriously—” “Bullshit.” He laughs a short, sharp, angry laugh. “All you do is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/what-i-cut-him-off-that-s-not-true-i-do-take-this-seriously-bullshit/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“We’re all too young to have to deal with this shit.” Kenji is breathing hard. “Don’t fool yourself, bro. No one should have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/we-re-all-too-young-to-have-to-deal-with-this-shit-kenji-is-breathing/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I’m not an idiot, Kenji. I have reasons for the things I say.” “Yeah, and maybe I’m just saying that you have no idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-m-not-an-idiot-kenji-i-have-reasons-for-the-things-i-say-yeah-and/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) ## More by Tahereh Mafi > [His hands are holding my cheeks, and he pulls back just to look me in the eye and his chest is heaving and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/his-hands-are-holding-my-cheeks-and-he-pulls-back-just-to-look-me-in/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“think Adam is looking to break Kenji’s neck at this point.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/think-adam-is-looking-to-break-kenji-s-neck-at-this-point/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I didn't want the clothes or the perfect shoes or the expensive anything. I didn't want to be draped in silk. 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His love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/he-s-too-much-everything-about-him-is-too-much-his-emotions-his/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Right now I can't even control my own imagination as it grips my hair and drags me into the dark”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/right-now-i-can-t-even-control-my-own-imagination-as-it-grips-my-hair/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I want you, I want all of you. I want you inside and out and catching your breath and aching for me like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-want-you-i-want-all-of-you-i-want-you-inside-and-out-and-catching/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I will give no one the satisfaction of my death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-will-give-no-one-the-satisfaction-of-my-death/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I almost forget that she still hates me, despite how hard I’ve fallen for her. And I’ve fallen. So hard. I’ve hit the ground.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-almost-forget-that-she-still-hates-me-despite-how-hard-i-ve-fallen/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [All I ever wanted was to reach out and touch another human being not just with my hands but with my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/all-i-ever-wanted-was-to-reach-out-and-touch-another-human-being-not/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“It's the kind of kiss that makes you realize oxygen is overrated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/it-s-the-kind-of-kiss-that-makes-you-realize-oxygen-is-overrated/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“That’s when I understand. Of course she’s not okay. Of course she didn’t get any sleep last night. Last night she almost killed one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/that-s-when-i-understand-of-course-she-s-not-okay-of-course-she-didn/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I used to have a family. 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We just had to stand there, watching as they dropped bombs on thirty years of work, killed everyone too young or too old to fight back, and then massacred the rest of our team on the field.” He clenches his hand around mine. “I come back here every day,” he says. “Hoping someone will show up. Hoping to find something to take back.” He stops then, voice tight with emotion. “And here you are. This shit doesn’t even seem real.” I squeeze his fingers—gently, this time—and huddle closer to him. “We’re going to be okay, Kenji. I promise. We’ll stick together. 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