"I mean, I had probably an illusion of being the wife that, you know, I wanted to create a home. I wanted to have children. I wanted him to be a husband. It was never going to be that way. It couldn't be that way"

Priscilla Presley reflects on the contrast between her dreams for her marriage to Elvis Presley and the reality that unfolded. She admits to having an "illusion" about being the wife she aspired to be, highlighting a youthful idealism and perhaps naiveté about love, commitment, and traditional family roles. Her desire to "create a home" and "have children" represents a longing for stability, normalcy, and a sense of belonging within a conventional family structure. She not only yearned for these aspects but also wished for Elvis to fully assume the role of a husband, suggesting that emotionally and practically, she hoped for an equal partnership, mutual support, and shared responsibility.

However, as she looks back, Priscilla acknowledges that these hopes were unattainable within her specific circumstances. Saying "It was never going to be that way" and "It couldn't be that way" reflects a bittersweet realization, recognition of the insurmountable challenges that existed in her marriage. This may refer to Elvis's unique lifestyle, including his fame, demanding career, personal struggles, and the dynamics of their relationship, which may not have allowed for the traditional domestic life Priscilla envisioned. The use of the terms "never" and "couldn't" underscores a sense of inevitability and resignation; it was not merely difficult, but impossible, for her imagined future to materialize.

Her words convey both disappointment and clarity. There is an implicit understanding that marriages, especially those under extraordinary conditions like global fame and scrutiny, are subject to pressures that can fundamentally alter or even prevent the fulfillment of ordinary hopes. Priscilla's self-reflection demonstrates emotional growth; she recognizes the gap between fantasy and reality and seems to accept that, despite earnest intentions, some aspirations are unattainable under certain circumstances. The statement evokes empathy for her longing, as well as respect for the honest acknowledgment of the limits imposed by her unique life situation.