face the world as orphans

But for those like us, our fate is to face the world as orphans, chasing through long years the shadows of vanished parents. There is nothing for it but to try and see through our missions to the end, as best we can, for until we do so, we will be permitted no calm.

Kazuo Ishiguro, When we were orphans

frase de introdução do livro;
"O Cemitério de Pianos" , José Luis Peixoto