Life has no rehearsal. No two lives can be compared, and there's no chance to do it better the next time because we only live once. So I've decided not to dwell in regret. The thought consoles me more than I expected. I used to regret certain past decisions. But their consequences aren't even settled yet, and regret changes nothing either way. So I'm keeping my attention on what comes next - on stepping forward. The first few pages of this book have me thinking a great deal about the once-ness of life. The characters still feel thinly drawn, and I'm not warming to them yet - but I'll keep reading.