In Cormac McCarthy's novel "The Road," the protagonist reflects on a desolate world devoid of hope and spirituality, where the essence of humanity seems lost. He observes that those who still carry faith or purpose have departed, leaving him behind in a barren landscape. The profound sense of isolation highlights the struggle of surviving in an environment stripped of meaning and connection.

The central question posed reflects on the nature of permanence and the inevitability of change in a world that has suffered so deeply. What remains when the aspects of life that once provided solace and certainty are stripped away? This contemplation evokes themes of despair and the search for understanding in a transformed reality, examining what truly stands apart in existence.