Read the following excerpt from a fictional narrative:
"As the last of the autumn leaves fell, Samuel stood under the ancient elm, contemplating the passage of time and his own transgressions. His once vibrant laughter had become a whisper, drowned out by the echoes of choices left unmade. Nearby, a child played, oblivious to the weight of regret, a testament to innocence untouched by life’s burdens. Samuel envied that child, wishing to reclaim the simplicity of those early days when life was filled with possibilities, not limitations."
What is the author's primary purpose in this passage?