Cozy Book Corner

Eager to stumble upon a leather bound book I couldn't name

I saw something new. There I was, making my way down the aisle, running my hand over the aged books I’ve touched a thousand times, when I came across a leather bound book I couldn’t name. My curiosity led me past the saturated binding, to here. I lay at the entry point; the front matter, the last chance to turn back before turning forward; the last warning that, after turning, I will fall into the world of another’s imagination. Where, upon entry, will I fall?

Maybe I will fall atop a horse galloping across the baked earth of the great American West, a sheriff badge pinned to my chest, leather boots encasing my feet, and a large brimmed hat shielding my face. I can feel dust settling into the crow’s feet bunched around my squinted eyes. I ride alone.

Perhaps I will fall into a prohibited underground bar. The lights are low. A stage overlooks a sea of people dancing and chatting around small, circular tables. A young woman glides across the stage like silk in the wind as her song narrates the liveliness of the room, its pace complementing the clink of glasses knocking together and the click of heels across the tiled floor. I live for these nights; the laughter and twirling dresses and all that jazz.

Or, maybe I will land amidst a nightmare. It is dark and I am outside. The coolness of the night is only partially contributing to the chill running down my spine. In this forest of ivy-covered trees I have been running, hiding, and running. Ivy is great at providing shelter for wildlife, but it is better at concealing the unwelcome. I see the knife as it catches the moonlight just before…