"There are some things a man can't do alone. I wouldn't think of trying anything so big without-" He stopped. The heavy waves beat the hard beach, and the yellow light of the setting sun illuminated a cloud to the eastward, a clot of gold.
"Without what?" Doc asked. 
"Without love," said the seer. "I have to go see the sunset now. I've come to the point where I don't think it can go down without me. That makes me seem needed." 


Sweet Thursday ~ John Steinbeck