He thought there must be a place, like a dead-letter office, where everyone's longing went, yearning that was sent out, day after day. He thought it must collect somewhere, in a dank basement room, the mass of it rising and rising like water, and with no end in sight.
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The character reflects on the nature of longing and unfulfilled desires, envisioning a place akin to a dead-letter office where all wishes and yearnings are collected. He imagines this space filled with the unfulfilled hopes of individuals, gathering endlessly like water in a basement, symbolizing the weight and depth of their unexpressed wants.
This imagery evokes a sense of collective human experience, suggesting that everyone harbors unfulfilled dreams. The concept highlights the emotional burden of these longings, suggesting a profound and universal struggle with desires that often remain unacknowledged or incomplete.
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