The word “linger” in literature conveys a sense of enduring presence—whether it’s the persistence of a memory, an emotion, or a moment of hesitation. Authors employ it to amplify reflective introspection and to dramatize the slow, sometimes reluctant, passing of time. In one narrative, it is used to evoke a mood of melancholy contemplation as a character stays behind in deep thought ([1]), while in another it delays the fulfillment of an action to underscore a temporally significant pause ([2]). It also captures the way certain feelings or images can persist long after the moment has passed, echoing in the mind ([3], [4], [5]). Even in more practical contexts, the term is used to caution against excessive delay or unnecessary lingering ([6], [7]), making it a versatile tool that enriches both the emotional and descriptive textures of a text.