" Are you sad?" Nicola asked. Richard turned in the chair. The scissors became motionless." Yes. I am sad. I'm sad most of the time." " Does it bother you?" " It never used to. But now it does. Very much." " It's because the world disappoints you," Nicola said. She set down hers scissors. " It continually fails to surprise you. It fails to be as wonderful as you long for it to be. This is where your sadness comes from. "