Chapter 05: Thin Cities 05
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In this thin city, all the years not spent in excessive grief make visible the negative space of existence. Even the shadow of the sun has its place. Through streets, squares, and bus journeys one finds shades of gloom, secrets concealed and truncated glances of those who glimpse the least dim chance of disappearing into anonymity. It is a city of estranged witnesses. Surrounded by the attenuated atmosphere of a thousand ghosts passing unnoticed, we observe things differently than before. We also understand something of life. We understand that time reveals more than we will see and passes away even faster. Life is the parable of fading shadows. We do not think in terms of this city. We do not, indeed, think of the city at all. There is no one who recognizes its existence and knows how to live there. All we see is the distorted flash, the man who keeps pointing to the shape of a certain tower as he turns in circles on a roundabout. And we do not understand his words. There is no need to interpret them. Only by living with the city, one can live with time. We can pause in this city and examine it from the point of view of individuals who have become invisible. Perhaps this is not the city we dreamed of or what we hoped it would be. Perhaps it is a confused piece of memory. A living space. And what else could we wish for in this thin city?
