It was possible to leave things behind-places, people, memories-at least for a time. But places held tight to the things that had happened in them, and to come again to a place you had once lived was to be brought face-to-face with what you had done there and who you had been.
The quote reflects on the complexities of leaving behind elements of one's life, such as locations, relationships, and memories, even if only temporarily. It suggests that while one can physically depart from these aspects, places are inherently tied to the experiences and emotions associated with them.
When returning to a former home, the individual is confronted with the weight of their past actions and the person they once were. This return serves as a powerful reminder of one's history and the lasting emotional imprints that places carry, emphasizing that escape from the past is often only an illusion.
