The City and Its Uncertain Walls

by Haruki Murakami

“That’s right. Sometimes the shadow and the real person trade places, and trade roles. But whether you’re the real you or your shadow, either way you’re you. That’s for sure. Instead of wondering which is real and which is the shadow, it might be best to think how each is the vital other self to the other.”

Your heart is like a bird flying through the sky. The wall can’t prevent your heart from flapping its wings. There’s no need to do what you did before, travel all the way to the pool and throw yourself in. And believe from the bottom of your heart that your other self will catch you in the world outside as you fall.”

I knew I had to leave and move on to the next stage. This was a predetermined flow. I understood that now. I didn’t belong here anymore. The space that contained me was no more. In many senses of the term.