departure

In the small southern town of Jefferson, Mississippi, lived a man named Joe Christmas. After years of wandering, hounded by his racial ambiguity, Joe found a kind of uncomfortable peace within Jefferson's rigid societal boundaries. His past was a profound mystery, even to himself, but life in Yoknapatawpha County offered a measure of stability, albeit a sharply defined one. He worked for Mr. McEachern, a stern, God-fearing man, and lived alongside the townsfolk who so often judged him without truly knowing him. Joe was a man of few words, his expressions hidden behind the complex tapestry of his past, yet he was an integral part of the raw, vibrant life that coursed through the town vein. His heart yearned for acceptance, but he had long since learned to build walls around himself, keeping his vulnerability tightly locked within.

Marvin, the last surviving Martian, stood alone on the dry red plains of his homeland, looking at the setting sun. He had just watched the last Earth rocket leave, its smoke trail shrinking into the abyss. When it was finally just a speck of dust in the sky, he looked around him. Everything was quiet, peaceful, just like the old times.

The gentle whisper of waves as they crashed against the shore filled Adrienne's room at the Inn. This delicate symphony was like a lullaby, her only companion in those solitary nights in Rodanthe. She wasn't there to find comfort in solitude. She was hoping to find the courage to carry on after her divorce and the loss of a dear friend.