It was a small room with dim light coming in the window, reminiscent of old Polish films.

I’m just kinda tired. Like a monkey in the rain.

What happens when people open their hearts?"... "They get better.

His heart, like mine, was ticking off the time allotted to his small restless body.

My only passions were books and music. As you might guess, I led a lonely life… Not that I knew what I wanted in life - I didn’t. I loved reading novels to distraction, but didn’t write well enough to be a novelist; being an editor or a critic was out, too, since my tastes ran to the extremes. Novels should be for pure personal enjoyment, I decided, not part of your work or study. That’s why I didn’t study literature

I don't really know if it's the right thing to do, making new life. Kids grow up, generations take their place. What does it all come to? More hills bulldozed and more ocean fronts filled in? Faster cars and more cats run over? Who needs it?

Everything, everything seemed once-upon-a-time.