Jeremy San Rafael, 1862 Orpheus Undone

“I stand in the stream of time, unaffected and unaffecting. Watching what has been and seeing what will be. It’s not a bad way to be, but it’s lonely.

“I wish I could share it you, wish that you would listen again. Listen and learn from my life. Mine and all those I’m sharing with you.”

But Neil is looking out his window onto the dirty street below. He has wrapped himself in sorrow so tightly that he hears and sees nothing, not trash rustling, not leaves blowing, not the soft despair on Ryan’s face. Ryan wishes he could shake Neil out of his reverie. He wants to grab him and awaken him, but he has only words to alter destiny, words softer than wind and Neil is not listening.