The Final Wish of Mr. Murray McBride

by Joe Siple

“Why would you wish for something impossible when you know it can’t come true. It’s a waste of a wish, don’t you think?”

“There’s comfort in familiarity,” he says. “Familiarity of language—can you imagine suddenly not being able to understand what people are saying around you? I remember very strongly how that felt. And familiarity of culture—it would be hard to live with different holidays and customs than you’ve grown up with. And yes, familiarity of looks. It might be a human weakness, but it’s no coincidence that most people feel most comfortable around people that look like them.”