There were times Ruma felt closer to her mother in death than she had in life, an intimacy born simply of thinking of her so often, of missing her. But she knew that this was an illusion, a mirage, and that the distance between them was now infinite, unyielding.

Jhumpa Lahiri
About This Quote

There were times Ruma felt closer to her mother in death than she had in life, an intimacy born simply of thinking of her so often, of missing her. But she knew that this was an illusion, a mirage, and that the distance between them was now infinite, unyielding. This quote is about how people emotionally feel about someone when they aren’t around them and how it can be difficult to get over. If you think back on your life and the people you love most and miss most today and then compare that to how you felt when they were alive, there will most likely be a big difference. Usually when we miss someone when they are alive we still think about them and talk about them with friends and family members.

Source: Unaccustomed Earth

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