"All writers have periods when they stop writing, when they cannot write, and this is always painful and terrible because writing is like breathing."

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Our story opens in the mind of Luther L. (L for LeRoy) Fliegler, who is lying in his bed, not thinking of anything, but just aware of sounds, conscious of his own breathing, and sensitive to his own heartbeats. Lying beside him is his wife, lying on her right side and enjoying her sleep.

— John O'Hara