Excerpt: The Life of the World to Come

But as the laughter died a mood overcame them, as if a great gray sheet had been thrown over them, casting everything into a shadow of what it was. Smiles still remained, some still chuckled, but a sense of something else prevailed, and the feeling of mortality commanded the table. They knew the love that they had for each other, they knew the love they had for the place and for their lives, and it occurred to them just how fragile it all was, and that at the severing of a string it could all fall away into oblivion. It was as if they were approaching the light at the end of a long and pleasant tunnel, and outside was fire. They looked at each other and found comfort. In the silence they were not alone, and each knew the love that the others felt, a quiet sort of protective devotion, and they knew that they would never be alone. The weight of uncertainty was lifted from their chests. Justin smiled at Rachel, and she smiled back, a corner of the mouth rising to a knowing point that assured and them both that they were alone, but they were alone together.