In a poignant moment described in "The Glass Rainbow" by James Lee Burke, the author captures the unsettling sensations that accompany the disarray of time when watches and clocks fail to function as expected. This experience stirs a deep emotional response, symbolized by a cold vapor engulfing one's heart, prompting introspection and a subconscious reckoning.

This moment of reflection leads to an assessment of one's life, akin to calculating a sum at the end of a long column of numbers. The result may evoke a sense of peace and bravery, revealing an inner strength that was previously unrecognized, or it may not, highlighting the complexity of human emotions and acceptance of one's circumstances.