He had wished me well in finding my own fate to follow, and I never doubted his sincerity. But it had taken me years to accept that his absence in my life was a deliberate finality, an act he had chosen, a thing completed even as some part of my soul still dangled, waiting for his return. That, I think, is the shock of any relationship ending. It is realizing that what is still an ongoing relationship to someone is, for the other person, something finished and done with.

He had wished me well in finding my own fate to follow, and I never doubted his sincerity. But it had taken me years to accept that his absence in my life was a deliberate finality, an act he had chosen, a thing completed even as some part of my soul still dangled, waiting for his return. That, I think, is the shock of any relationship ending. It is realizing that what is still an ongoing relationship to someone is, for the other person, something finished and done with.

(0 Reviews)

The quote from Robin Hobb’s 'Fool's Assassin' eloquently captures the painful and complex emotional process of coming to terms with the end of a relationship. It evokes a profound truth about human connection—how different perspectives on an ending can leave one person caught in limbo, holding on while the other has already moved on decisively. This divergence creates a unique and often deeply lonely experience. It highlights not just the loss but the shock of recognizing a relationship can simultaneously exist and be over depending on whose eyes it is viewed through.

The reflection on the years spent accepting the finality reveals the slow, often difficult internal journey toward closure. The phrase "some part of my soul still dangled" powerfully conveys that aching feeling of incompletion and unresolved attachment lingering even after an act of conscious separation, which many can personally relate to. It underscores how grief is not always immediate but rather an extended process that unfolds differently for each individual.

Moreover, the quote speaks to acceptance and self-determination—acknowledging another person’s decision to leave and, in turn, the imperative to seek one's own fate. It balances a respect for the other’s choice while confronting the emotional cost it imposes. This interplay between agency, loss, and healing invites readers to contemplate the nature of closure, the pain of unreciprocated emotions, and the courage needed to define one's path after a relationship ends.

Page views
6
Update
May 29, 2025

Rate the Quote

Add Comment & Review

User Reviews

Based on 0 reviews
5 Star
0
4 Star
0
3 Star
0
2 Star
0
1 Star
0
Add Comment & Review
We'll never share your email with anyone else.