About this quote

People act surprised when love leaves them exposed, like they didn't accept the trade-off. Letting someone close changes what can reach you — the tenderness comes with real risk. That risk shows you what you value and where your limits are; sometimes you tighten them, sometimes you adjust them. Decide who you want inside your life and what you'll do if they hurt you.

When to use it

• After I told my parents I'm moving in with Alex, I kept thinking of Gaiman's line — now every comment at family dinner hits differently.
• At the company holiday party when I introduced my partner to coworkers, I remembered that line — mixing work and love means opening a new door for gossip.
• In therapy, when I finally told my sister about my panic attacks, that quote came to mind — once she knew, her reactions affected my recovery.
• When we opened a joint bank account, I thought of the line about getting 'inside you' — sharing money made me feel more exposed than I expected.