--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The return journey was nothing like the…" description: "\"“The return journey was nothing like the arrival. Bea couldn’t wait to get out of the car. She remembered feeling like this before, with Brandon, on se..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06a/tracey-anne-mccartney-39851_boyfriend_the-return-journey-was-nothing-like-the_2446278.jpg" --- # The return journey was nothing like the arrival. Bea… ![“The return journey was nothing like the arrival. Bea couldn’t wait to get out of the car. She remembered feeling like this before, with Brandon, on several occasions. It was an excruciating need to escape the confinement of being in too close a proximity to passive-aggressive behaviour. She hated…” quote by Tracey-anne McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06a/tracey-anne-mccartney-39851_boyfriend_the-return-journey-was-nothing-like-the_2446278.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06a/tracey-anne-mccartney-39851_boyfriend_the-return-journey-was-nothing-like-the_2446278.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06a/tracey-anne-mccartney-39851_boyfriend_the-return-journey-was-nothing-like-the_2446278.jpg) > ““The return journey was nothing like the arrival. Bea couldn’t wait to get out of the car. She remembered feeling like this before, with Brandon, on several occasions. It was an excruciating need to escape the confinement of being in too close a proximity to passive-aggressive behaviour. She hated conflict, after a row, it would take her hours, perhaps days to become fully relaxed and herself again. She became anxious, not entirely brought on by his coldness, but by old memories, and the way her body would instinctively react to them. It wasn’t a feeling that she wanted to experience with someone new, of whom she’d told his sister only a short time ago that she was falling in love with.”” [Tracey-anne McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-anne-mccartney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character feels trapped by past trauma and passive‑aggressive conflict, fearing intimacy with a new partner. **In simple terms:** Fear of closeness due to past pain. Key Takeaway Recognize triggers and seek healthier boundaries. Themes anxiety relationship trauma conflict intimacy Mood uneasy reflective Type narrative emotional When to use this quote - dating - therapy - self‑reflection - conflict resolution Key Concepts attachment theory emotional triggers self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - How do past conflicts shape present intimacy? - What steps can break the cycle of anxiety? A Different Perspective Past trauma may not fully explain current feelings; personal growth is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) [Falling in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling-in-love/) [Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight/) [Heartbreak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heartbreak/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Old memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-memories/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing spoils a good story like the arrival of an eyewitness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/nothing-spoils-a-good-story-like-the-arrival-of-an-eyewitness/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Dustfinger still clearly remembered the feeling of being in love for the first time. How vulnerable his heart had suddenly been! Such a trembling,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-funke/dustfinger-still-clearly-remembered-the-feeling-of-being-in-love-for/) [Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/) > [“Afterward he remembered only the feeling that he was about to leave somewhere small and rational - a place that made sense - for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/afterward-he-remembered-only-the-feeling-that-he-was-about-to-leave/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The people they had been last summer, the person she had been--Dicey guessed she'd never be afraid again, not the way she had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-voigt/the-people-they-had-been-last-summer-the-person-she-had-been-dicey/) [Cynthia Voigt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-voigt/) > [“always the return journey to home is the sweetest, its just because we take memories home with us”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-adithyan/always-the-return-journey-to-home-is-the-sweetest-its-just-because-we/) G. Adithyan > [Travel deep inside yourself without the baggage of conditioning. Be an explorer, have patience and eventually your true nature will surface. You will return…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-r-capristo/travel-deep-inside-yourself-without-the-baggage-of-conditioning-be-an/) Marco R Capristo > [Let sannyas be the turning point. That's what sannyas is all about: a return journey. One starts moving inwards rather than moving outwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/let-sannyas-be-the-turning-point-that-s-what-sannyas-is-all-about-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [The human heart dares not stay away too long from that which hurt it most. There is a return journey to anguish that few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-smith/the-human-heart-dares-not-stay-away-too-long-from-that-which-hurt-it/) [Lillian Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-smith/) > [The man who is cocksure that he has arrived is ready for the return journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/the-man-who-is-cocksure-that-he-has-arrived-is-ready-for-the-return/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [“Your extensive travels must have been fatiguing," Zakath said in that same flat tone, "particularly for the ladies. I'll see to it that your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/your-extensive-travels-must-have-been-fatiguing-zakath-said-in-that/) [David Eddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/) > ['Iceman' covers a bigger scope than 'Long Day's Journey.' But they're both fabulous pieces of work. 'Iceman' is like a symphony. It's got all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robards/iceman-covers-a-bigger-scope-than-long-day-s-journey-but-they-re-both/) [Jason Robards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robards/) > [“It was not like the beginning of a journey; it was like the beginning of a dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells/it-was-not-like-the-beginning-of-a-journey-it-was-like-the-beginning/) [H. G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells/) > [Wonder knows that while you cannot look at the light, you cannot look at anything else without it. It is not exhausted by childhood,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/wonder-knows-that-while-you-cannot-look-at-the-light-you-cannot-look/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/a-journey-is-like-marriage-the-certain-way-to-be-wrong-is-to-think/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [It takes a great strength of character to arrive at Real at 18 years and make a journey like I have so far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-varane/it-takes-a-great-strength-of-character-to-arrive-at-real-at-18-years/) [Raphael Varane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-varane/) ## More by Tracey-anne McCartney > [“Every unknown is a beginning'.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-anne-mccartney/every-unknown-is-a-beginning/) [Tracey-anne McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-anne-mccartney/) > [“Take me on a journey to the place of souls,” she whispered as he moved closer. “I want to close my eyes and feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-anne-mccartney/take-me-on-a-journey-to-the-place-of-souls-she-whispered-as-he-moved/) [Tracey-anne McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-anne-mccartney/) > [“Our inner light, may become less bright for a time, but in its fading, it is re-energizing, and will again awaken from sleep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-anne-mccartney/our-inner-light-may-become-less-bright-for-a-time-but-in-its-fading/) [Tracey-anne McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-anne-mccartney/) > [“When I lost you...my world darkened beyond any known shade of black, and the only light that I have seen since is you...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-anne-mccartney/when-i-lost-you-my-world-darkened-beyond-any-known-shade-of-black-and/) [Tracey-anne McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-anne-mccartney/) > [“He cupped her face in his hands. “Now, let me take you on a journey to the place of souls, to your little piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-anne-mccartney/he-cupped-her-face-in-his-hands-now-let-me-take-you-on-a-journey-to/) [Tracey-anne McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-anne-mccartney/) > [“To be able to shine brightly, ones light must first fade.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-anne-mccartney/to-be-able-to-shine-brightly-ones-light-must-first-fade/) [Tracey-anne McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-anne-mccartney/) > [“His words have become invisible scars on my skin - Awake in Purple Dreams”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-anne-mccartney/his-words-have-become-invisible-scars-on-my-skin-awake-in-purple/) [Tracey-anne McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-anne-mccartney/) > [“Stars behind cosmic glass... the light behind one's eyes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-anne-mccartney/stars-behind-cosmic-glass-the-light-behind-one-s-eyes/) [Tracey-anne McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-anne-mccartney/) > [“He threw the knife at Karian’s face, deliberately catching his temple. “Sons of Kings shouldn’t play with sharp toys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-anne-mccartney/he-threw-the-knife-at-karian-s-face-deliberately-catching-his-temple/) [Tracey-anne McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-anne-mccartney/) > [“She placed her arms and hands strategically over the areas of her body that she felt uncomfortable with, but he moved closer, and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-anne-mccartney/she-placed-her-arms-and-hands-strategically-over-the-areas-of-her/) [Tracey-anne McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-anne-mccartney/) [Explore all 11 Tracey-anne McCartney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-anne-mccartney/) ## More Boyfriend quotes > [I want a man that when I come running up to him with tears running down my face, the first thing he says is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-a-man-that-when-i-come-running-up-to-him-with-tears-running/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dear boyfriend, Those 800 miles, I can feel them. They arent just 800 miles of tar on this earth, theyre the cruel and manipulating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-boyfriend-those-800-miles-i-can-feel-them-they-arent-just-800/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A Real Boyfriend does the sweetest things randomly because he never wants her to feel unappreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/a-real-boyfriend-does-the-sweetest-things-randomly-because-he-never/) Enhance Dreams > [A real boyfriend can see the pain behind a girls smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/a-real-boyfriend-can-see-the-pain-behind-a-girls-smile/) Patience > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [I look for someone who has confidence. Also someone whose energetic, cause I'm NOT that energetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-look-for-someone-who-has-confidence-also-someone-whose-energetic/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [While youre on the other line Ill keep thinking about, Ways that I can make you mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-sebastiao/while-youre-on-the-other-line-ill-keep-thinking-about-ways-that-i-can/) [Emanuel Sebastiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-sebastiao/) > [Dad taught me everything I know. Unfortunately, he didn't teach me everything he knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-unser/dad-taught-me-everything-i-know-unfortunately-he-didn-t-teach-me/) [Al Unser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-unser/) > [You arent the only one sitting home alone on a Saturday night. Wonder if your future boyfriend/girlfriend is doing the same thing you are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-arent-the-only-one-sitting-home-alone-on-a-saturday-night-wonder/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In the night all I think about is you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-ramkran/in-the-night-all-i-think-about-is-you/) [Christine Ramkran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-ramkran/) > [Don't punish your next boyfriend for what an ex did. Not all men are the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-punish-your-next-boyfriend-for-what-an-ex-did-not-all-men-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want a man who will give me the strength and saupport to fight...a real man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-a-man-who-will-give-me-the-strength-and-saupport-to-fight-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My boyfriend does this really cute thing where he forgets to exsist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/my-boyfriend-does-this-really-cute-thing-where-he-forgets-to-exsist/) Unkown > [I need this<3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-need-this-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Niggas be wanting a girl who plays video games, watch sports, have tattoos & wear jordans. Sounds like you want a boyfriend nigga.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/2-chainz/niggas-be-wanting-a-girl-who-plays-video-games-watch-sports-have/) [2 Chainz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/2-chainz/) Browse all 2,377 Boyfriend quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The return journey was nothing like the arrival. Bea couldn’t wait to get out of the car. She remembered feeling like this before, with Brandon, on several occasions. It was an excruciating need to escape the confinement of being in too close a proximity to passive-aggressive behaviour. She hated conflict, after a row, it would take her hours, perhaps days to become fully relaxed and herself again. She became anxious, not entirely brought on by his coldness, but by old memories, and the way her body would instinctively react to them. 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