--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This notebook might be all I have left of…" description: "\"“This notebook might be all I have left of her. My hand is still hovering over the cover, tempting me to open it and find her again, even if it’s only ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/tahereh-mafi-229_journal_this-notebook-might-be-all-i-have-left-o_1387160.jpg" --- # This notebook might be all I have left of her. My hand is… ![“This notebook might be all I have left of her. My hand is still hovering over the cover, tempting me to open it and find her again, even if it’s only for a short while, even if it’s only on paper. But part of me is terrified. This might not end well. This might not be anything I want to see. And…” quote by Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/tahereh-mafi-229_journal_this-notebook-might-be-all-i-have-left-o_1387160.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/tahereh-mafi-229_journal_this-notebook-might-be-all-i-have-left-o_1387160.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/tahereh-mafi-229_journal_this-notebook-might-be-all-i-have-left-o_1387160.jpg) > ““This notebook might be all I have left of her. My hand is still hovering over the cover, tempting me to open it and find her again, even if it’s only for a short while, even if it’s only on paper. But part of me is terrified. This might not end well. This might not be anything I want to see. And so help me, if this turns out to be some kind of diary concerning her thoughts and feelings about Kent, I might just throw myself out the window.”” [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. Describes the fear and temptation of revisiting painful memories through a diary **In simple terms:** Opening the diary feels both alluring and terrifying Key Takeaway Weigh the risk of confronting past pain Themes memory fear temptation Mood anxious melancholic Type fictional emotional When to use this quote - grief counseling - creative writing - personal healing - self‑reflection Key Concepts Trauma processing psychological conflict Questions to Reflect On - What would you gain by opening it? - How can you protect yourself while seeking closure? A Different Perspective Revisiting may reopen wounds without resolution ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Diary Concerning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diary-concerning-4822906/) [Journal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journal/) [Juliette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/juliette/) [Notebook Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notebook-left-4822905/) [Paper Terrified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper-terrified-4822904/) [Terrified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrified/) [Terrified End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrified-end-4822907/) [Thoughts and feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-and-feelings/) [Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warner/) ## Related quotes > [“I touch the tip of my finger to his lips. "There are secrets in here," I say. "I want them out." He tries to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-touch-the-tip-of-my-finger-to-his-lips-there-are-secrets-in-here-i/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“And he leans in, so carefully. Breathing and not breathing and hearts beating between us and he’s so close, he’s so close and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/and-he-leans-in-so-carefully-breathing-and-not-breathing-and-hearts-2/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Please," he says. "I'm begging you to stop." I still. "I can't stomach your pain," he says. "I can feel it so strongly and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/please-he-says-i-m-begging-you-to-stop-i-still-i-can-t-stomach-your/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“He smiles. "You know- I feel everything when you touch me, love. I can feel your excitement. Your nervousness. Your pleasure. And I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/he-smiles-you-know-i-feel-everything-when-you-touch-me-love-i-can/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I do know that I don't want to wake him. We were up very late last night.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-do-know-that-i-don-t-want-to-wake-him-we-were-up-very-late-last/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Juliette, love,” he says to me, still holding my eyes. “You have just started a war.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/juliette-love-he-says-to-me-still-holding-my-eyes-you-have-just/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I love you," I whisper. "I love you exactly as you are." Warner is looking at me like he might be going deaf and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-love-you-i-whisper-i-love-you-exactly-as-you-are-warner-is-looking/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“You’re perfect,” I tell him, so overcome I forget myself. “All of you. Your entire body. Proportionally. Symmetrically. You’re absurdly, mathematically perfect. It doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/you-re-perfect-i-tell-him-so-overcome-i-forget-myself-all-of-you-your/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Lift your hips for me, love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/lift-your-hips-for-me-love/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Juliette ? ” A tentative voice . “ Are you okay? ” I lower the pillow . Blink up . Warner is wearing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/juliette-a-tentative-voice-are-you-okay-i-lower-the-pillow-blink-up/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I love you, ” he says , his words harsh and soft all at once. “ I love you and it isn’t enough .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-love-you-he-says-his-words-harsh-and-soft-all-at-once-i-love-you/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“You allow the world to think you're a heartless murderer," I tell him. "And you're not." He laughs, once; his eyebrows lifting in surprise.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/you-allow-the-world-to-think-you-re-a-heartless-murderer-i-tell-him/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Warner was supposed to be dead. Warner was supposed to be dead because I was supposed to have shot him but no one supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/warner-was-supposed-to-be-dead-warner-was-supposed-to-be-dead-because/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I want to laugh one of those strange, high-pitched, delusional laughs that signals the end of a person's sanity. Because this world, I think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tehereh-mafi-unravel-me/i-want-to-laugh-one-of-those-strange-high-pitched-delusional-laughs/) [Tehereh Mafi Unravel Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tehereh-mafi-unravel-me/) > [“He leaves less than a foot of space between us and I'm 10 inches away from spontaneous combustion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/he-leaves-less-than-a-foot-of-space-between-us-and-i-m-10-inches-away/) [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. All I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-didn-t-want-the-clothes-or-the-perfect-shoes-or-the-expensive/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“infinite points of feeling for every nerve ending in my body”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/infinite-points-of-feeling-for-every-nerve-ending-in-my-body/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“He's too much. Everything about him is too much. His emotions, his actions, his anger, his aggression. 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. He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-used-to-have-a-family-he/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I've never been able to follow through.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-ve-never-been-able-to-follow-through/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“ground where it smells like ice and metal and dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/ground-where-it-smells-like-ice-and-metal-and-dirt/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) [Explore all 821 Tahereh Mafi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) ## More Journal quotes > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. 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I'm not sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumner-redstone/the-reason-we-have-not-gone-to-newspapers-is-because-its-a-slow/) [Sumner Redstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sumner-redstone/) > [Adam Berenson knows how to compose, organize an ensemble, do musical research, play solo and trio piano, write for musical journals, and enlist others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bley/adam-berenson-knows-how-to-compose-organize-an-ensemble-do-musical/) [Paul Bley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bley/) > [ I wrote an article about the marine landing \[in Haiti\] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-landing-in-haiti-right-away-but/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The writer who is a mother should, I think, record everything she can: make notes, keep journals, take photographs, use a tape recorder, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-ostriker/the-writer-who-is-a-mother-should-i-think-record-everything-she-can/) [Alicia Ostriker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-ostriker/) > [I will be known forever as the Puppy who chased a cutpurse and caught fish garbage instead. My descendants will pretend I'm not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/i-will-be-known-forever-as-the-puppy-who-chased-a-cutpurse-and-caught/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [Authors of published papers and editors of scientific journals can, unfortunately, be slow to come to terms with criticism, and it's good that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-gelman/authors-of-published-papers-and-editors-of-scientific-journals-can/) [Andrew Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-gelman/) > [Write: write letters. Keep journals. Besides your children, there is no surer way of achieving immortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-burns/write-write-letters-keep-journals-besides-your-children-there-is-no/) [Ken Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-burns/) > [I keep a journal. I like myself better when I just pour it out. 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This might not end well. This might not be anything I want to see. 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