Normal, in our house, is like a blanket too short for a bed--sometimes it covers you just fine, and other times it leaves you cold and shaking; and worst of all, you never know which of the two it's going to be.
Jodi PicoultRead
when you [lose someone], it feels like the hole in your gum when a tooth falls out. You can chew, you can eat, you have plenty of other teeth, but your tongue keeps going back to that empty place, where all nerves are still a little raw
Interpretation
What this quote means
Losing someone creates a lasting emptiness, even as life continues.
This quote illustrates the profound impact of loss, comparing the emotional void left by a loved one to the physical sensation of losing a tooth. Despite the ability to carry on with life and maintain other relationships (represented by other teeth), the mind and heart often return to that specific absence, where feelings of pain and longing still linger.
Themes
LossGriefMemoryAbsenceEmotion
In practice
Example use cases
During a eulogy, this quote can emphasize the lingering pain of loss.
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