In this passage from Alice Munro's "Lives of Girls and Women," the narrator describes a moment of reconnection with the world after a period of emotional turmoil. As she enters a familiar setting, she perceives the mundane elements of her environment—trees, houses, and streets—in their unembellished forms. This acknowledgment of the world's intrinsic qualities feels jarring at first but gradually brings a sense of solace. The once vibrant experiences of love...