Murdock stood perfectly still, his mind turning over the statement, finding truth in it that refused to settle properly.
His breathing slowed fractionally, his hands unclenching at his sides.
Silence spread across the alley like spilled ink.
Then the old man's voice returned, cutting through before the quiet could become unbearable.
"And to have faith..."
A pause, making sure the words would land with full weight.
"Is to stop auditioning for a tragedy that hasn't been filmed yet."
Another pause, heavier than the first.
"To realize that the universe cannot write the ending until you finish choosing the present."
The words echoed through Murdock's awareness like bells, resonating with something deep inside his chest.
His mind rang with the wisdom, turning it over and over, finding layers he hadn't seen on first hearing.
'The universe cannot write the ending until...'
His whisper emerged barely audible, stripped of the earlier rage.
"But what choice do I even have?"
