The vivid memory of the woods had blossomed into a visceral longing for the Ridge, so immediate that I felt the ghost of my vanished house rise around me, a cold mountain wind thrumming past its walls, and thought that, if I reached down, I could feel Adso's soft gray fur under my fingers. I swallowed, hard.
The protagonist reflects on a deep emotional connection to the Ridge, recalling vivid memories of the woods and a past home. This longing evokes a powerful sensation of presence, as if the specter of the house and its beloved surroundings are still tangible. The cold mountain wind serves as a reminder of the life once lived there, reinforcing the connection to nature and memory.
In this moment of nostalgia, the protagonist can almost feel the comforting touch of a cherished companion, Adso, enhancing the bittersweet recollection. This sense of longing encapsulates the theme of memory and attachment to one’s roots, illustrating how the past continues to influence and shape the present.