Use of 以前に in this sentence


想いがこみ上げて、目に涙が滲んでいくのがわかった。

会いたい。会って話がしたい。

それが叶わない以前に、今更叶えたらいけないことだと分かっているから、ぐっ…と唇を噛み締めて堪える。

The character is wishing to meet his family (who is alive but he can't meet
them for reasons) and he says this.

How is 以前に being used in this sentence exactly?

"Far not coming true, I can't grant it"?




以前に sets the tone that we are thinking or talking about (taking into
consideration) something from beforehand in this case. Pairing this with
それが叶わない we get something like "Before that (meeting / seeing his family) would
not have come true".

With the rest of it added in we get something like:

> 想いがこみ上げて、目に涙が滲んでいくのがわかった。
>
> 会いたい。会って話がしたい。
>
> それが叶わない以前に、今更叶えたらいけないことだと分かっているから、ぐっ…と唇を噛み締めて堪える。
>
> The thought of it makes me sick. I know the tears will come.
>
> I want to meet. I want to meet and talk.
>
> Before that wouldn't have come true (as in happen / come to fruition). I
> bite my lip and endure, because I now know if it were to come true it won't
> be good.

