In the last few days, I have had to battle with the fear that everything is actually just random, that the universe is a howling void of meaningless chaos, indifferent to everything that I value. All hope has at times seemed unjustified to me.

But groundless hope, like unconditional love, is the only kind worth having.

- John Perry Barlow, writing in his eulogy for Cynthia Horner. Their relationship and Barlow’s wrestling with her unexpected death was act three This American Life’s episode “Conventions”.