The quote reflects a profound realization about the nature of seeking and understanding truths. It suggests that sometimes the pursuit of something holds more significance than the object of the search itself. The character grapples with the idea that what they are searching for may have been an illusion or may have vanished over time, highlighting the futility of certain quests.

This theme resonates throughout "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," as the protagonist navigates their emotional landscape while processing loss and searching for connections. The notion that the essence of what we seek might never have been real invites readers to contemplate the meanings we ascribe to our experiences and the often-painful nature of those searches.