Kirjahaku

The decision was made within a moment, one governed by the limitations of experience and the forces therein - one that changed all of them, yet still one that remained the focus going forward: A moment that was irrelevant. A moment best left forgotten to the past - the past, best left forgotten.As if it would.The past stood as the future for the woman that had stood next to Logan since the moment. It was where he went while taking walks in Paradise - reflecting back. It was where amends were needed. It meant the conversation he avoided. It meant facing those he'd left behind: To be left behind. To understand a moment that could not be understood, to watch a pillar fall that was infallible. To understand - how it could happen: It was not expected. It fell as betrayal, yet feeling it betrayal resounded selfish. To enumerate events and observations to bring clarity to what occurred.As if it would.Success stood upon the moment as an outlet Muriel had seized upon to comprehend, to understand exactly what went wrong. It became more complicated, the deeper that it grew, and in the end - was it worth it? The past was always present but it could be that the past was only that: Gone.Logan and Muriel look to the future while trying to move on from the past and leave it where it stood.As if it would.

Promises were made. Expectations were raised that vast opportunity laid openly available. Listen: A command set on every child - Dani listened and held each word that she was offered as if it carried utmost truth. But then, Miami disappeared, and hope; the future that had been prophesied was gone. The words of mystery and promise dropped to sudden silence - but not forgotten: Dani left when she was done with schooling, armed only with a tree to prove her worth, and determined to find the way back to Miami - convinced it was the means to understanding everything. Unflickering faith that it was necessary, to bring meaning to her life.

"If there's one thing this boy knows about, it's birds." So said Javi's father, with a tinge of embarrassment, as he responded to a claim excusing prolonged absence. Birdwatching became an outlet of expression as Javi tried to fit into a world that seemed to be offended by his mere presence. The avocation became a distinction, for better and worse, and coincidentally led to other, unexpected and unlikely interests - bringing new friendships and reconnection with old acquaintances. Though Javi finds many experiences to support his expectations, it is those that do not that he finds most difficult to accept.

A sequel to Woulehoos: Ferrar's caution from the past plays out, and new perspectives force everyone to reconsider the events that shaped their lives.

There are moments where a clarity falls. Moments where a simple observation brings a rush of memory, a rush of feelings that were left behind - a reminder of the fears of what laid ahead, a fear of the consequences for the choices made: A moment where everything experienced distills and brings awareness to the present, greater understanding of all that is occurring and un-equivocating knowing of what is held most dear. Those moments strike disconcert; humility that lay one bare, that fall hard as a heavy punch straight in the gut.

Crime dropped. The reason wasn't clear as those that took the credit claimed, but there wasn't a dispute about the fact: Crime was down. With the changing currents in the city and new pressures for the resources, those charged with overseeing its control were viewed with less necessity. It brought a change to the application of the role - and a reduction in the numbers. Another trend occurred as crime receded: Murders were below the lowest of historic records, yet the bodies that were found out on the streets were near as high as they had ever been - no investigation needed for damage self-inflicted. An overdose won't count against crime figures: Quick report - case closed. Never to be thought about again. Once in a while, they didn't close. Once in a while, they stuck around.