The quote reflects a profound ambivalence in the speaker's feelings toward someone who unexpectedly arrives in their life. It encapsulates a mix of longing and reluctance, suggesting a complex emotional landscape filled with both desire and hesitation. The rhetorical question signifies a search for deeper understanding or clarity, hinting at an unresolved connection or conflict within their relationship.

The response, "The winds blew," implies that external forces or circumstances have brought this person to the speaker, perhaps indicating fate or destiny's role in their meeting. This choice of words also evokes a sense of inevitability, reinforcing that certain encounters are beyond individual control, adding layers to the theme of human relationships in Mitch Albom's narrative.