The trigger gave; I felt the smooth underside of the butt; and there, in that noise, sharp and deafening at the same time, is where it all started. I shook off the sweat and the sun. I knew that I had shattered the harmony of the day, the exceptional silence of a beach where I'd been happy. Then I fired four more times at the motionless body where the bullets lodged without leaving a trace. And it was like knocking four quick times on the door of unhappiness.

Summary

This quote illustrates the jarring moment that marks the beginning of a tragic event. The narrator describes the instant when they pull the trigger of a gun, disrupting the peaceful ambiance of a previously happy beach. As they proceed to fire more shots at a motionless body, they emphasize the lack of impact the bullets leave, almost symbolizing the fruitlessness that accompanies their action. The quote symbolizes the irreversible shift from happiness to profound sadness, encapsulating the way one single action can dramatically alter the course of a person's life.

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