THE LONG RUN, a Story by Edith Wharton

After twelve years away, a chance reunion at an old haunt in New York brings long-lost friends together. Amidst the flicker of candlelight and whispers of nostalgia, a man reconnects with his friend Halston Merrick, a figure from a more vibrant past now shadowed by convention. As secrets unfold in the softly lit room, one woman, elegant yet faded, becomes the unwitting center of a tale of love forsaken and the paths not taken. Will this winter evening mend old bonds or deepen the silences that time has drawn? Dive into a poignant exploration of friendship, regret, and the enduring question of what might have been.

[@libbyneves5457]

Thank you, too for the beautiful music at the end.

[@susanverhoeven4962]

How different Wharton's times were from ours. I am glad she recorded them so deftly.

[@VickiNikolaidis]

Very nice. Edith Wharton is a sensitive writer.

[@jeanf8998]

I wish the voice was male. Otherwise well done.

[@Lake1920]

I agree! This very young-sounding female voice isn’t the best choice to convey the essence of male characters. Are all of these “narrators” AI-generated voices? This one sounds fairly human! Another thing that bothers me is that the emphasis is often not on the right word that enhances the meaning. This leads me to note it immediately and correct it in my mind. In any event, it’s a tremendous gift to hear these stories read aloud as I attend to other essential things. Sadly, there’s not enough time in the day to be seated in a comfortable chair, turning the pages of a book.

[@marialangdon573]

Agreed. I usually switch off when I hear those piecing female voices, A.I or not. I am sorry to miss the stories, however it can be so strident to be painful. There seems to be very few women with suitable voices, & A.I appears to exaggerate it.

[@PippaAT]

It took me a while to work out if the speaking character was male or female.