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 seem absent, causing the world to revert to its harsh realities.

This experience prompts the narrator to reflect on her identity. She begins to rediscover her old self, characterized by irony and isolation, despite her lingering physical pain from loss. The contrast between her emotional disarray and her reconnection with the world highlights the complexity of healing. Munro captures the tension of moving through grief while simultaneously reclaiming a sense of self in a world that can feel indifferent and cold.