How Writing on Bluwr Improved My Memory and Mental Health
Six months ago, I began a daily writing habit on Bluwr, a platform that greatly simplifies the publication process while promoting direct interaction between its users. This commitment to sharing my AI and venom research in understandable terms has sharpened my thinking and significantly alleviated the mental pressures of my academic pursuits. Bluwr’s design for quick and direct feedback from a global audience enriches the experience, providing rapid and meaningful exchanges that enhance the interactive aspect of writing.
Writing every day on Bluwr has leveraged SEO to enhance the visibility of my work. By optimizing content for search engines, Bluwr ensures that my articles reach not just the academic community but also enthusiasts and professionals interested in AI and venom studies. This wider exposure increases the impact of my research and invites a broader spectrum of feedback, enriching my work and personal growth.
Bluwr's commitment to fostering a high-quality readership has been incredibly beneficial. As I noted in a recent post, "The engagement from knowledgeable readers around the world who understand and expand on my research is profoundly gratifying." This sentiment was echoed in a conversation I had with the founder of Bluwr, who stated, “Our mission is to break down barriers to knowledge sharing and connect individuals across diverse backgrounds. We aim to catalyze innovation by making it easy for experts and novices alike to exchange ideas freely and without delay.”
This philosophy aligns with my experiences on the platform. The variety of perspectives I encounter has bolstered my professional growth and has also become an integral part of my mental health care strategy. Each article I publish leads to interactions that reinforce my connection to a global community of curious minds. This engagement is crucial for feeling supported and motivated, especially when dealing with the solitary nature of PhD research.
Reflecting on the past six months, my daily writing on Bluwr has been more than just a personal or professional exercise. It has improved my mental clarity, expanded my network, and opened up opportunities for collaborations that I had never anticipated. The platform has allowed me to share my research with a wider audience and has provided a space where I could grow as a scientist and communicator. Daily writing fosters a disciplined approach to research and idea generation, improves memory retention, enhances problem-solving skills, and increases the ability to articulate complex information clearly.
As I continue to write and share my work, I am reminded of the powerful role that writing can play in enhancing understanding, both for myself and for my readers. Writing on Bluwr could turn your passion for writing into a recognized skill that might even become a profitable endeavor in the future.
Always remember to 'THINK FORWARD.'
Start writing on Bluwr today, and see where your words can take you!
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How My Cat is Enhancing My PhD Experience
Pursuing a PhD is a monumental commitment marked by long hours, intense research, and significant stress. However, within this academic environment, I’ve discovered an unlikely ally in my studies — my cat. Here’s a closer look at how my feline companion isn’t just a pet, but a vital support in my PhD endeavors.
Emotional Support in Times of Stress
PhD programs are known for their rigorous demands, which can lead to substantial stress and anxiety. In these moments, the calming presence of a cat can be incredibly soothing. Research shows that interacting with cats can lower cortisol levels (a stress-related hormone) and increase serotonin, the chemical responsible for feelings of well-being. My cat seems to instinctively know when I need a comforting nudge or a purr-filled cuddle, providing relief that helps me refocus and persist.
Creating a Structured Routine
One of the challenges of a PhD is the need for self-discipline and a structured daily schedule. Cats, with their steadfast adherence to routine (demanding food and attention at regular times), help in establishing and maintaining this daily schedule. The responsibility of caring for my cat ensures that I start my day early and take necessary breaks, crucial for maintaining productivity and well-being.
Unconditional Companionship
The path to earning a PhD can be a lonely one, with hours spent alone reading, writing, and conducting experiments. Loneliness can be a significant hurdle, but my cat offers constant companionship without the complex social interactions that can sometimes be overwhelming. This presence helps alleviate feelings of isolation and boosts my mood on challenging days.
Motivation Through Responsible Pet Ownership
Taking care of a cat requires a certain level of activity and engagement, which paradoxically can enhance my own productivity. Regular breaks to feed, play, or simply pet my cat not only keep her happy but also ensure that I stand up, stretch, and momentarily step away from the computer. These breaks are vital for mental clarity and often help me return to my work with a fresh perspective.
A Source of Humor and Inspiration
Cats are full of surprises and their antics can provide much-needed humor and light-heartedness. Watching my cat chase a laser pointer or curiously paw at my research papers often brings a smile to my face, reminding me not to take life too seriously. Furthermore, the simplicity of her life, unburdened by the complexities of human concerns, sometimes offers unexpected insights into my own research or life.
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Cuteness With a Bite: The Slow Loris
The Slow Loris, with its big, innocent eyes and soft fur, epitomizes the epitome of cuteness in the animal kingdom. However, this adorable exterior hides a potentially dangerous secret. Slow Lorises are among the few mammals known to produce venom. This venom comes from an elbow gland, which they can mix with their saliva. When threatened, they deliver a toxic bite to predators, which can cause severe pain, swelling, and even allergic reactions in humans.
Interestingly, the venomous bite of the Slow Loris serves a dual purpose: defense and competition among lorises. The complexity of the venom, believed to be derived from consuming toxic substances, allows the loris to process and incorporate it into its defensive mechanism.
Despite their toxicity and potential danger, Slow Lorises continue to face threats from the pet trade due to their appealing appearance. This illegal trade endangers their populations in the wild and poses risks to humans unaware of their venomous capability. Conservation efforts are crucial for protecting these unique creatures and their habitats, ensuring their survival away from the dangers of illegal pet trade and habitat destruction.
Follow me on Bluwr, and if you like this type of articles, please Bluw thousands of times. I'm kidding, just once will do!
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The greatest error I made as a creator was assuming I already had an audience.
The biggest mistake I have made as a creator is letting my ego, my ambition, and the shallowness of social media convince me that I had an “Audience” instead of a network.
It’s easy to become obsessed with the shallow popularity contest, with notions of influence and attention. And over the past few years, my work has become divorced from reality and drifted long way away from authenticity.
Social media platforms, with their algorithms and echo chambers, made it easy to believe that the numbers represented people eagerly awaiting my next post, my next big idea. It’s a mirage, a superficial layer that didn’t capture the depth of real human connections. But I can’t blame the platforms alone. My self-importance is equally responsible.
The term ‘Audience’ implies a one-way street — it suggests a group of passive listeners, viewers, or readers who are there to consume what I create. This perspective is not just limiting; it’s fundamentally flawed. It overlooks what it means to be a creator in the digital age: being part of a vibrant, interactive network.
A network, unlike an audience, is dynamic. It’s not broadcasting to a group of faceless spectators. It’s about engagement, exchange, and mutual growth. It involves listening as much as speaking and learning as much as teaching. In a network, every node and individual is a potential collaborator, source of inspiration, or a critical voice that can offer valuable feedback.
There are people on the other side of the screen. They don’t exist just to fill out our quota of 1,000 true fans. They don’t exist as data points on an analytics dashboard. And they have so much more to give than their attention and the time spent viewing a video or reading an article. I cannot and will not keep treating the people who find my work and engage with it as NPCs in a roleplaying game.
Realizing this has been a game-changer. It’s shifted my focus from seeking applause to fostering conversations. Instead of obsessing over the number of followers, I’m more interested in the quality of interactions I have with them. This approach has opened up new avenues for creativity and growth that I had previously overlooked, blinded by the glitter of superficial metrics. I spend more time talking to people than ever before. I spend more time listening, too. And I spend a lot of time learning. My ideas shift, change and grow with every interaction. There’s a deep richness that can’t be found in delusions of grandeur.
The shift has brought with it a sense of humility. You can get caught up in the numbers and believe your hype when your follower count is rising. But recognizing that each follower is a person with their own thoughts, experiences, and contributions is a reminder that I am part of something larger than myself and that my success is not just measured in likes or shares but in the impact I have on others, and the effect they have on me in return.
I am not — and do not wish to be — some kind of bulls**t internet celebrity. The path of the influencer seems frightfully lonely. I’m a writer. I write. When I find people who want to read my work, it’s not something to take for granted. It’s a gift, and it’s an honour, and it’s something that I cherish every day.
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The greatest error I made as a creator was assuming I already had an audience.
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Everyone nowadays claims to be an AI expert, a concerning reality!
Include Artificial Intelligence in your speech, and you'll sound fancy and expert. That's the sad reality nowadays. People are confused between being fans of Artificial Intelligence and being experts. It's kind of funny when you think about it.
Being an expert in AI requires years of experience, traceable achievements, and a deep understanding of the field.
I've been working with artificial intelligence every day for a while now, and I can say I'm still not close to being an expert. A fan, yes, but not an expert.
These days, it's too easy to pretend you know more than you do. You could just ask ChatGPT for a quick summary or some tools about something you don't really understand, and boom, you can make it look like you know a lot.
This makes things confusing for people trying to hire the right person, and it's why trust and reliability are becoming rare.
We need to bring back honesty and the human touch that's missing in AI. If we rely too much on AI, we might end up losing what makes us human. So please, let's keep it real.
Note: This text was not generated by AI.
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Everyone nowadays claims to be an AI expert, a concerning reality!
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Is daily posting on LinkedIn a waste of time? What should you do instead?
Focusing on quality over quantity is crucial when posting on LinkedIn. Rather than adhering to a daily posting regimen, aim to create high-quality content that resonates with your audience, providing them value and fostering engagement. Understanding your audience is essential; tailor your posts to their interests and needs.
Diversifying your content types, such as articles, videos, and infographics, keeps your profile dynamic and engaging. Engaging with others by commenting on, sharing, and reacting to their content, as well as including calls to action in your own posts, can significantly enhance visibility and build relationships within your network. Use a content calendar for planning and consistency, and optimize your posting times based on when your audience is most active.
Networking strategically on LinkedIn, beyond just posting content, can open up numerous opportunities. Connect with individuals in your industry, potential mentors, and companies of interest. Showcasing your expertise through insightful posts positions you as a thought leader. Pay attention to analytics to understand what content performs best and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Remember, success on LinkedIn is about making an impact and providing value, not just the frequency of your posts.
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Strategic Shift from Daily LinkedIn Posts to Thoughtful Writing on Bluwr
Shifting from daily postings on LinkedIn without a deliberate plan can lead to a cycle of exhaustion and reduced engagement, diminishing the effectiveness of your online presence. Turning your attention to writing on Bluwr emerges as a strategic move. Bluwr presents a platform with an audience keen on meaningful content, offering writers the chance to establish a niche through well-considered, comprehensive articles. The platform prioritizes the quality of content over its frequency, enabling a deeper exploration of subjects and fostering a genuine connection with readers. Choosing to write on Bluwr allows for cultivating a substantial, engaged audience by providing valuable insights, not merely seeking visibility through frequent updates. This strategic shift enhances personal brand and professional prospects through demonstrating expertise and thought leadership. Additionally, Bluwr's strong focus on SEO ensures content is easily discoverable in search results, further amplifying visibility. The platform's absence of bots and the requirement for approval prior to login create a community dedicated to authentic engagement, tailored for individuals committed to meaningful discourse.
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Strategic Shift from Daily LinkedIn Posts to Thoughtful Writing on Bluwr
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Human Writing VS AI Writing
Generative AI is killing the writing market nowadays. Is there still a purpose to writing articles or books as a passion, considering writing is a means of self-expression?
The value of writing seems to be diminishing drastically, with many people misusing AI by copying content from tools like ChatGPT and pasting it without even reading it.
When someone writes from their heart and mind, expressing genuine human emotions, their work often goes unnoticed, dismissed as AI-generated.
Personally, I believe writing has become exceedingly competitive. It's becoming challenging to achieve bestseller status if you haven't published before the rise of AI, unless you're already well-known in your field.
This is precisely how ChatGPT and similar technologies are disrupting the market for new writers.
Note: This text was not generated by AI.
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Human Writing VS AI Writing
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Rethinking Productivity in PhD Studies for Better Results
In the world of PhD studies, there's a common belief that spending long hours in the office means you're doing well. However, this isn't always the best approach. Being in the office is important for working together with your team, sharing ideas, and learning from each other. But, it shouldn't become a routine where you're just sitting at your desk without really being productive.
It's better to focus on what you actually achieve rather than how many hours you're seen at your workspace. Some students find they work best in quiet, solo environments where they can really focus. Recognizing this, students and their advisors should talk about finding the right balance. It's okay to work from different places if that helps you do your best work.
Here are some tips for students and academic departments to consider:
- Find the right mix of office time and working alone: It's good to be in the office for team work and discussions, but also find time and places where you can concentrate deeply on your own work.
- Set clear goals: Focus on what you want to achieve with your research, rather than how long you spend working on it. This helps you stay on track and makes your work more meaningful.
- Talk about your work style: Be open with your team and supervisor about how and where you work best. This can lead to a more supportive environment where everyone's working habits are respected.
- Keep a balanced routine: Make sure to take breaks, get some exercise, and enjoy hobbies outside of your studies. A balanced life supports your mental health and can make you more productive.
- Use technology to stay connected: Even when you're not in the office, you can keep in touch with your team through email, discord, video calls, and other online tools. This helps you stay part of the team without needing to be physically present all the time.
Academic cultures should encourage students to work in ways that best suit them, focusing on achievements rather than just time spent in the office. This approach can lead to happier, more productive students and better research outcomes. Remember, it's about finding what works for you and making the most of it.
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PhD Balance Achieving Expertise and Broad Perspectives
A PhD, or Doctor of Philosophy, isn't just about becoming a master in a specific field; it's essentially about learning to think deeply and critically about complex problems. Traditionally, getting a PhD meant more than just becoming an expert in a narrow area. It was about developing a keen ability to question the status quo and to see the connections between diverse areas of knowledge. However, today's PhD programs often lean heavily towards specialization, encouraging students to focus intensely on very specific topics and methods. While there's undeniable value in becoming an expert, this approach can sometimes overshadow the importance of the bigger picture. It's vital for PhD students to not only have a deep understanding of their specific area but also to have the capacity to think broadly about how their work fits into a wider context.
Encouraging PhD students to think both critically and broadly doesn’t detract from their specialization. Rather, it enriches their educational experience, making them not just specialists but also versatile thinkers who can approach problems from various angles. This mindset allows them to look beyond their immediate projects and data, considering the larger implications of their work. By finding the right balance between deep, specialized knowledge and a broad, critical mindset, PhD programs can better prepare students for a range of careers, both in and out of academia. This isn't about choosing between being an expert or a broad thinker; it's about being both.
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PhD Balance Achieving Expertise and Broad Perspectives
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Wake up
Close your eyes and endeavor to recall the first instance when you became self-aware, the initial moment you truly opened your eyes and observed the world around you. Can you locate this image within your memories? Is it vivid, or perhaps elusive? If you haven't found it, fret not, for it's often said that every story in existence has a beginning. Thus, you can believe that the genesis of your narrative exists, even if it's shrouded in the mists of forgetfulness. "Belief" can expedite the journey towards answers to myriad questions in your mind. However, "awareness" can lead you along alternative, albeit potentially longer, paths to deeper understanding. Are you inclined towards belief or awareness?
Now, open your eyes. What do you see before you? Can you touch, hear, or even smell it? How do you know of its existence? Do you rely on belief in your senses? If so, where does your awareness fit into this? Do you think belief precedes awareness? Do you think your story begins with believing in what you perceive?
**************************************************
*Close your eyes again and try to remember the best moment of your life so far. Do you find it? Can you see your smile? Can you feel your happiness again in this best moment? Keep your eyes closed and just focus, you can do it if you want. But did you ask yourself if you are happy now or not? Are you good? Be honest with yourself, you should know what happens inside you. There is a soul inside you. Did you ever ask your soul if it is good or not? You can be happy but your soul isn't, so you just claim happiness. Happiness is not just smiling and laughing is a deeper feeling that your soul is good.
I won't prompt you to open and close your eyes again to revisit the sad moments in your life. Do you know why? Because these memories should be expunged from your mind if you seek to nurture a wholesome soul and genuine happiness. Happiness is a choice, not a happenstance occurrence. Remember, you have the power to choose happiness. It hinges on how you perceive the events in your story. Focus on the filled portion of your glass, not the empty part, to uphold a good soul.
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Just as every story boasts a beginning and middle, it inevitably culminates in an end. Have you ever pondered this inevitability? How do you envision the final chapter of your tale? Do you anticipate a denouement suffused with joy or tinged with sorrow? Do you expect to walk the final steps alone, or surrounded by companions? Are you apprehensive about your end? Be honest with yourself; you cannot control all the elements of your story. If you struggle to discern the beginning and end of your tale, it suggests that you're not the master of your narrative; rather, you are merely a character in a dream that will conclude when you hear "Wake up" from your master.
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Wake up
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Mustapha Guiliz: The door ajar...
"In writing this book, I aspire to a more humane form of justice, one that ensures equality between citizens, but also the right to fulfil oneself."
This sentence, full of meaning and questions, is by Si Mustapha Guiliz. It is taken from the article that the newspaper "L'économiste" devoted on 3 January 2024 to the presentation of the book "les hommes de la nuit" published by Orion, whose founding president is none other than Si Abdelhak Najib.
The article is followed by an edifying interview with Si Mustapha Guiliz, the author of the book.
This is an author whom Bluwr readers and members have had the privilege of meeting and, above all, appreciating through his article "Education through values", which appeared in Bluwr few weeks ago.
Si Mustapha GUILIZ is a teacher and writer who has already written "Le Monde d'Brahim" and "Au pays des sources".
Contrary to the title of the book, which might suggest that the author is a dull, even embittered character, Si Mustapha is a pleasant person, with a youthful smile that is pleasant, fulfilled, indulgent and tender.
When you come into contact with him, you realise just how far removed he is from the subjects he covers. This detachment, which is both intelligent and not at all indifferent, allows him to go into the depths of things with the objectivity that is both necessary and required.
Having had an hour-long discussion with Si Mustapha one fine morning last November, I was able to gauge and appreciate his detachment and depth of philosophical analysis.
"The men in my book are men with a capital M, who have made the best of life in the dark," he says. In fact, for Si Mustapha, all men deserve a name with a capital M, and not just the characters in his inspired fiction.
In a world of injustice, he dreams of justice. In a world where women suffer, he dreams of ideal conditions for them all. In a world of abused power, he dreams of moderation and balanced power. In a world of despair, he dreams of fulfilment.
Is he an idealist from another planet, the one on which he sails to bring his characters to life?
He is the only one to know ...
In any case, this sentence "Through the writing of this book, I aspire to a more humane form of justice, one that aims to ensure equality between citizens, but also the right to fulfil oneself" fits his character perfectly. We need so many people like him to reveal our reality to us, but also to open the door to hope and to urge us to break it down.
I'm writing these lines to congratulate Si Mustapha, whose book is a perfect start to this new year of service to the community, and to express my pride in knowing him and publishing articles with him on Bluwr, in the hope of reading him again soon on the platform.
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Mustapha Guiliz: The door ajar...
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The Sun.
Let me tell you about the Sun. Which nurtures life in everything through its shining radiance. Whose golden light encourages growth and whose warmth mends the deepest rashes and wounds of the soul.
Yet there is another sun, a darker sun, whose shining brightness shines brighter than any sun. That sun never sets and never rises for it is always there. The sun of creation, the sun that was there before the golden sun. The sun that nurtured the seed deep underground before any leaf pierced the wind, reaching for the sky.
For every tree needs two suns, one that nourishes its leaves and one that nourishes its roots.
The tree on Man is the same, for all men are born of the same tree. Roots must go into the deepest depths just as leaves and branches reach for the highest skies.
Thus is the will to life, and thus spoke Apathustra.
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The Sun.
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Supernova
One of those sunless nights
My feet planted firmly in the sky
I will call your name
Meandering through the stars
See if gravity pulls us apart
You might forget my soul
An event without horizon
Drink the poison of my hope
I will swallow my reason
He who wanted to elope
In a supernova
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Supernova
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Melusine - Part 1
The sun, that day, had forgotten to set.
As he was reclining on a curvy and narrow chaise longue, Sebastian Byrne looked at the slant rays glimmering through the yellowing leaves on the lowest branches of the elms. Their brass-trimmed green lace ebbed and flowed as the wind blew away the last minutes of the golden hour. Sebastian brought the quilt closer to his neck.
He sighed, scattering some crumbs around for the birds; but that evening none dared to fly by. Maybe Nathan had lost track of time on his way to the post office and back, and would not come, as he promised, before dusk. They had always watched the sun set together. They did so for the last six weeks, before Sebastian fell ill; and for the first day he could step outside, Nathan did not even bother to be on time. Undergrads will be undergrads… Sebastian was staring absentmindedly at the slow, suspended vanishing of the light when muffled footsteps echoed down the hill, along the side path that lead to the verandah.
- Sebastian!
The silvery voice rushed towards Sebastian, followed from a distance by a buoyant, youthful figure clad in light linen, waving a folded paper. The figure flew nearer, leaping, kid-like, on the smooth slope where Mrs Byrne’s garden weaved itself into a wilderness of low bushes and wild roses.
A smile flickered across Sebastian’s thin, slightly parched lips, and disappeared. He had always seen Nathan skipping and leaping around, from the day he had interviewed him as a candidate for Oxford. While most of the applicants were timidly sliming along the college’s staircases and the tutors’ questions, Nathan jumped along the steps as he did through Greek and Latin periods. A rare breed he was, that seventeen-year-old brat, in a time when undergraduate faces were drawn by sullenness and tedious ploughing.
And here he was, two years later, running back from Mrs Byrne’s country house, a letter in his hand. It was that white rectangle that chased Sebastian’s smile away. It was, doubtlessly, the answer Nathan had been expecting for weeks.
Sebastian, they wrote back!
« I know », thought Sebastian. « They wrote back and had the answer been negative, you would not have leaped so vivaciously, would you now? »
Presently Nathan threw himself on the chaise longue, which squeaked under the attack, and stuck the letter under Sebastian’s nose.
- Tolle, lege!
Sebastian’s lips quivered as he caught glimpses of the words carefully drawn in dense black ink on the white paper. The handwriting leaned gently towards the right, on even lines that left an elegant margin on each side of the silken-white paper.
Dear Sir,
I am very grateful for you reply. I have read the reference letter sent to me by Doctor Byrne with great interest and his account of your accomplishments… We are very pleased that you are able to join us in spite of the circumstances… Looking forward…
Did Madame de La S*** answer herself? Sebastian did not read any further. The thin, straight lines seemed to curl up, fading into one another, becoming barely legible. He smiled and extended his hand:
« Well done, young man. This is an unexpected step, but an expected success. And they seem quite keen. » The last paragraph was indeed pressuring. It was urgent that the position would be filled. As many other applicants had manifested interest, Nathan was expected to arrive as early as possible, or they will be forced to hire someone else. « I would need to go as early as possible, maybe the day after tomorrow », said Nathan.
It was not until then that Nathan looked at his tutor’s face. As the golden sunlight was turning to purple, he realized the sudden and deep changes the disease had impressed on Sebastian Byrne’s face, once full of strength, intelligence, and mercy. When he had first met Sebastian — then Doctor Byrne to him, Nathaniel Kiernan fell under the spell of these grey eyes, so deeply grey they sometimes seemed black. For two years, almost every day, he had sat under their keen gaze in Sebastian’s room, a shabby but spacious set that overlooked Saint Mary’s tower and the Bodleian’s dome.
Those were the days we shall remember as the last golden golden glory sining over the Spires. Not that these were better days, but this time is gone. Surely, then, tutors complained about the termly fifth)week gloom, about the food, at times too rich and at times too poor, and about the noises that the new automobiles made, covering the trodding and rattling of the carriages. Those days poured over the city one after the other, year after year. Matriculation speech faded into Christmas carols as we snuggled in library nooks during the winter; then Summer Eights dragged us out by the river, revision books in hand, then graduation ceremonies rushed upon us and after the long, and yet too short, summer vacation, Matriculation happened again, ushering in a new cohort of Freshers’ faces, at once enthusiastic and anxious, the youthful barbarians from Eton or Harrow, the models of appropriateness from hard-working grammar schools. Under the gaze of the dreaming spires, the streets teemed with laughter that rang along the chiming bells, with inebriated songs at the crack of dawn, with the joyful glee and careless wrath that came with the examinations’ results. While the colleges remained unchanged, their stones and statues clad in centuries of iteration, the young faces around made every morning new. Even Sir Rayleigh, the provost, seemed like a playful young man to Nathan the first time he met him, his eyes sparkling with cheerful wit under his wrinkled forehead and his snow-white hair.
Nathan was one of these modern foundlings, all family ties loosened by a scandalous divorce that threw the name he bore into shame, then into oblivion. Her mother at least had the decency to spare enough money for his education but just enough. Her family would refuse to do anything for a Kiernan boy. As he settled in Oxford, Nathan saw Doctor Byrne as a master more than a tutor. He was impressed by the man’s thoughtful silences as much as by his constant good spirits; he mimicked the way Byrne’s long white fingers rose in a slow arabesque before he spoke, strived to reform the sharp angles of his character to match Byrne’s composed temperance, and copied Byrne’s way of parting his hair in a falsely messy line he wore slightly askew. « Byrne has his way with the young gentlemen, the provost used to say. He talks to them like he was their father, and smiles at them like he was their sister! ».
What a difference a few months had made. Oxford, in a few days, was deserted as people ran away from a nameless disease, that seemed to appear nowhere else.
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Melusine - Part 1
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