With the news about Andy, it was like someone had thrown an x-ray switch and reversed everything into photographic negative, so that even with the daffodils and the dogwalkers and the traffic cops whistling on the corners, death was all I saw: sidewalks teeming with dead, cadavers pouring off the buses and hurrying home from work, nothing left of any of them in a hundred years except tooth fillings and pacemakers and maybe a few scraps of cloth and bone.
The narrator experiences a profound shift in perception upon hearing news about Andy, akin to flipping a switch that reveals a stark, negative view of life. Despite the ordinary scenes of life around them—such as blooming daffodils and people walking their dogs—they can only focus on death and decay. This overwhelming presence of mortality transforms the familiar environment into a haunting landscape where the vibrancy of life is overshadowed by thoughts of inevitable demise.
As the narrator observes the bustling city and its inhabitants, they envision a reality where all that remains after death are the remnants of once-living individuals. The imagery of cadavers and the notion that in a century, little will be left of these people except for dental work and medical devices highlights a poignant reflection on mortality and the fleeting nature of existence. This perspective serves as a reminder of the fragility of life amidst the mundanity of everyday routine.
