Gilded Bay and all your money won't another minute buy

she was truly wise beyond her years. aditya was fascinated in listening to her, and kept his attention trained solely on her face while she spoke. he let a beat or two of silence fall between them before speaking again.

it is lonely to carve your own path in life, he replied. i was like that for a long time before settling down—and then it ended up that i didn't settle down after all. i left children, a legacy—but i couldn't stop wandering.

he smiled ruefully. nothing comes easy, he murmured. but i think you have the right perspective.

the girl and the old man, framed by the ancient sea. they spoke at length until finally separating—would they meet again?—with her words still ringing in his ears.