“Hesse’s Stage came to Perdu’s mind. Most people were familiar with the first line, of course: “In all beginnings dwells a magic force... ” but very few people know the ending: “For guarding us and helping us to live.” And hardly anyone realized that Hesse wasn’t talking about new beginnings. He meant a readiness to bid farewell. Farewell to old habits, Farwell to illusions. Farewell to a long-expired life, in which one was nothing but a husk, rustled by the occasional sigh.”
