The ink lies on still paper. One follows the markings and finds the shallow depth of its message. A cold, uncaring, numb apathy envelops every lightly etched page. Age matters little to the messenger. There is silence, a blanket to chill an afternoon of simple warmth. Emaciated arms, as ice, reach the heart, grips it with unfeeling vice, ripping it apart. The sun has left; the room is dark. Its weight bears down and immobilizes the place from a sense of space or time. Time struggles to crawl. It falls time and again, lifeless eyes staring into its futile attempts at empathy. Breaths are raspy bed-fellows clamoring for proper position. It is too crowded in this room. Steps, thunder on hard, wooden floors, venture from home and into sparse-lit streets. The mind wanders down cold memories and distant intimacies; soon finds itself at an open door. Inside are glimpses of starlight and simple wonder. The message i...