In Charles Frazier's book "Varina," the author reflects on the fleeting nature of time. The essence of a moment can slip away unexpectedly, leaving us with a sense of loss. Once a moment has passed, there is no retrieving it, and what remains is a rush of feelings and thoughts that linger throughout our lives.

This quote suggests that life is filled with rapid moments that can shape our experiences, but they can also leave us yearning for what we cannot reclaim. The slow passage of life afterwards becomes a time for contemplation and perhaps regret over the moments we couldn't hold onto, highlighting the dichotomy between fleeting time and lasting memories.