In the novel "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer, the speaker reflects on their feelings of pain and the struggle to communicate them. They have a desire to express their emotions and thoughts but recognize that sharing this honesty could cause distress to someone they care about. This internal conflict leads them to suppress their feelings, choosing instead to endure the hurt quietly.

This quote encapsulates the profound tension between the desire for openness and the impulse to protect loved ones from discomfort. It highlights how sometimes individuals prioritize the feelings of others over their own, often at a personal cost. The emotional toll of such decisions can be significant, as the speaker acknowledges that the burden of unspoken feelings is heavy and painful, yet they choose to carry it alone.