Solo

Standing ground

In the at times lonely modern city, there is no more honoured emotion than love; a sign that though solitary we may have become we have not given up the hope of forming relationships. But this is not the love that brings forth a universal brotherhood of mankind. It is a more jealous and restricted variety. It is a romantic love which sends us on a maniacal quest for a single person with whom we hope to achieve a life long communion; one person in particular who will spare us any need for people in general.

A hand cupped the heel of a woman who wished to climb a tree to see the stars more clearly. The men laughed into their tumblers. They all went swimming again with just the modesty of the night. An arm touched a face. A foot touched a stomach. They could have almost drowned or fallen in love and their lives would have been totally changed during any one of those evenings.
~ Running in the Family, Michael Ondaatje