Book Store

Do you remember this place? The smell and the sharp sound the pages made when you flipped them. Remember how you had tiptoed and kissed me while I had leaned back on the fiction bookshelf. At the time, it seemed a fiction, a crafty story written just for fanservice. Being kissed by the prettiest girl in the whole wide universe, it was insane. It had lasted for a few seconds yet it still lingers, even after half a decade later. Time, such a bitch!

We had come to get you books for your birthday, how similar we were, books for gifts all year around. I handed you the most interesting book I could think of "The Gone Girl," yes the irony has not been lost on me. We had spent 3 hours in the bookshop, flipping books, holding hands while going through shelves. I remember your smile when I left your hand to grab the latest Nicholas Spark's book, my memory fails me now about the book's name. You had just nodded and held my arm instead.

We had taken small breaks and just sat on the floor, starring at the number of books on the shelf. You had even leaned your head on my shoulder and wrapped your arms around mine. So magical! We even looked at the books behind us filled with Fairy Tales. We had grinned, ours was coming true. The manager was gracious enough to wrap the book when I told him it was your birthday, such a lovely old man he was.

After we left the bookstore and walked under the dim lights, I bought you a ring, a 20 Rs ring. It was cute, and I had slipped it on your finger. You had your face turned red, and you did admit why I call you what I call you was justified. I had never seen you so happy, never did I think I could make someone so happy! We had parted our ways after some time, for that day, and for this life.

I never dared to go to another bookstore for many years or even the library. I got my books from the internet, but after years, when I thought I had erased you from my mind, I went back to that bookstore. The old man was no more, his photo was there with garland. The bookstore was in the process of closing down. I went to the same spot where you had kissed me, and the bookshelf was empty. I was in and out of that bookstore in a matter of minutes.

They had even changed the lights on the footpath, renovation they said. Erasing every memory I had of you more or less, I tell you. I couldn't breathe. I don't know how you are. Have you erased me from your life? Have you cleansed your cupboard filled with my letters? Have you thrown out the ring I gave you? How often do you wear that pendant I gave you? Dolphin, huh, it was dumb! I wanted those all back so I could burn them myself. I couldn't. I don't often read your letters now, for that matter any book, I don't write often now. I do wish to erase many people, many memories and much pain, but never you.

So for that, this scene really is the anti of my story, sorry "our" story, even if it was few chapters long. It was the best damn fanservice story ever written, except the concluding chapter, which was rough.