Diction and Syntax in Emotional Turmoil

In the following excerpt, the author employs various diction and syntax strategies to convey the protagonist's emotional turmoil. Read the passage carefully and consider how the choice of words and sentence structure contributes to the overall tone and meaning. After reading, answer the question that follows.

"The night enveloped the town, its shadows creeping with slow deliberation, whispering secrets of decay. Each streetlamp flickered hesitantly, as if unsure of its purpose, casting elongated shadows that danced mockingly on the cobblestones. Within the heavy silence, a solitary figure wandered, footsteps muffled by the thick mist. Guilt clung to him like the dampness in the air, suffocating and relentless. He dared not lift his gaze, fearing what lurked in the darkness—memories unleashed, haunting and relentless."