A STORY. 65. A NEW EXPERIENCE

You’ve left the bookstore. Usually you turn to the right. This time you turn to the left, go further along this street you rarely walk along.

You’re still the tiniest bit dozy, not totally awake. This is the first time you’ve ever fallen asleep in a bookstore. A new experience. Probably not one you should repeat!! What was that all about?

You remember back. You’d just read a poem about happiness.

https://elsasemporium.com/7-days.html

You nod. You remember back to words about doors inside opening wide, air blowing between rooms . . .

A warming breeze is blowing
     curtains aside
     opening wide
     the rooms inside
     to a fresh tide
          of air

     throwing
          shifting sunlight
          on the walls
          on all
          that's inside

You’ve never before read much poetry - any actually. You yawn a small yawn. You’re waking up.

You start to notice the store fronts. A furniture store has closed. A shoe store has closed. A small café has closed. It wasn’t good for business, what the country has been put through. It wasn’t good for anyone - anyone decent. Everything looks normal now, except for the closed shops. But you know that much isn’t normal.

You realize you’ve almost pulled yourself away from the words in your head.

You stand still, in the middle of the sidewalk, close your eyes.

A warming breeze is blowing
     curtains aside
     opening wide
     the rooms inside
     to a fresh tide
          of air

A warming breeze . . . You like that.

You know what you will be turning to next.

You are also having bits from the last few years go through your head.

To be continued . . .
A STORY. 66. MEMORIES OF DARK DAYS
https://elsaiselsa.substack.com/p/a-story-66-memories

A STORY. ALL THE CHAPTERS ... UP TO NOW
https://elsaiselsa.substack.com/p/a-story-table-of-contents-up-to-now

Posted July 11, 2024