31 Comments
User's avatar
Jill CampbellMason's avatar

This one slams and embraces--so many thoughts and memories, dreams and un-dreams it unleashes.

Thank you!!!

Expand full comment
Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you, Jill! Glad it did so much to you. :)

Expand full comment
Jill CampbellMason's avatar

The contrasts!!

Expand full comment
Nathan Slake's avatar

There is some true existential horror wrapped up in this, Silvio. The notion that an existence can go from being there to nothing and that it was due to the consciousness going somewhere else back when it should have gone to the person you knew...! Wonderfully captured in so few words.

"Starting your life somewhere else..." !

I think this is my favourite line, because I can see it so vividly and the transition captures the surreal: "Everyone ends up somewhere, you added, before returning to the task of saving what was left of your gelato, already lost to gravity and the sun."

Expand full comment
Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you, Nathan! You nailed the essence of what I intended to convey here. In a way, our continuous effort to make sense of this existence conceals the very notion of how our consciousness came to be, probably out of nothing.

Expand full comment
Nathan Slake's avatar

😊

Definitely.

(PS sorry I haven't gotten to your latest, yet. I'm struggling to stay afloat this week!)

Expand full comment
Silvio Castelletti's avatar

(No worries at all! I completely understand, as I've been in the same situation for weeks now. Hope all is well with you, my friend.)

Expand full comment
Nathan Slake's avatar

Thanks, yes, all OK, just totally snowed under with work and haven't managed much writing of my own, which I always find saps my soul. Hoping to play catch up today!

Hope all is well with you.

Expand full comment
Silvio Castelletti's avatar

I’m well, thank you; kind of crazy busy, but well. I just sat down to catch up a bit. So far, I’m keeping up with my publishing cadence, though, frankly, I’m not sure how long this surprisingly immaculate streak will last. I’m just taking the road as it comes.

Expand full comment
Janice LeCocq's avatar

I had to read this twice….It’s shattering…one of my family members is a narcissistic addict who tortures his father….starts a reapproachment , his father’s heart responds, and then the son sends the email that he was never his father’s son….

Expand full comment
Nathan Slake's avatar

😱

Expand full comment
Janice LeCocq's avatar

Exactly

Expand full comment
Silvio Castelletti's avatar

This sounds like a horrible nightmare. Thank you for sharing, and reading!

Expand full comment
Janice LeCocq's avatar

It is, but not a rare story.

Expand full comment
Mj's avatar

Good god ….

Expand full comment
Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

Charming and terrifying in equal parts - what a way to make your acquaintance, Silvio.

Expand full comment
Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you for reading! It's meant to evoke diametrically opposed emotions -- I'm glad you liked it!

Expand full comment
Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

Success! :)

Expand full comment
Alexander Ipfelkofer's avatar

"Everyone ends up somewhere, you added, before returning to the task of saving what was left of your gelato, already lost to gravity and the sun." Exquisite, Silvio.

Expand full comment
Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you so much, Alexander!

Expand full comment
Kimberly Warner's avatar

Fireflies shot out of my chest upon finishing this. Bravo Silvio. The ache is visceral and deep, yet otherworldly. Both in perfect balance.

Expand full comment
Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you so much, Kimberly! You've pinned down exactly the right words here. So glad you liked this.

Expand full comment
Rose Campbell's avatar

Goosebumps AGAIN! Love this very poignant letter.

Expand full comment
Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you, Rose!

Expand full comment
Susan Ross's avatar

Poignant.

Beautiful.

Thank you.

Expand full comment
Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you for reading, Susan!

Expand full comment
Tim Connolly's avatar

Wonderful read

Expand full comment
Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you!

Expand full comment
CansaFis Foote's avatar

…have you ever written about why you unsend so many letters?…at this point with a voice so active and developed i imagine all these folks might benefit as much or more than us from you thoughts and ideas…

Expand full comment
Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Who knows, maybe it would have exerted the opposite effect: instead of a benefit, distress and confusion. :)

Expand full comment
CansaFis Foote's avatar

...true...i know if i ever got a letter from someone i hadn't heard from in a while though i'd at the very least be charmed...

Expand full comment