Jaclyn Moriarty

Strange! It’s so strange, the fine film of life. You move around inside it then the horror burns a hole in the film.

The other adults in the room, their closely guarded terror, cheerful voices, the closeness of loss, its impossibility, and the sweet intensity of gratitude for these people taking care of our children, the people speaking in measured tones, moving around the hospital explaining things, studying charts, gazing at little faces, thoughts running back and forth behind their eyes as they smiled at the children

Trying to force Seneca’s approach: believe the worst and you will be prepared when it takes place; by believing the worst, he actually thought he was earning a happy surprise.