On a chilly autumn evening, I had just finished attending a long day of back-to-back classes at the university. I was already a bit tired since it was a very boring class, so I decided to cheer myself up with a good book as a lover girl at heart who so much loves reading and the feeling that comes with it.
The happy employ on my face shows how thrilled I was as I walked through the scarcely populated street of downtown Ashwood, looking around the old buildings with brick facades that had faded and eroded from years of exposure to the elements flanked the streets. The aroma of freshly made coffee and baked pastries filled the air, coming from the bakeries and cafes that lined the streets.
I took a deep breath and felt my stress subside. My happiest spot was here.I've always been a bookworm, so the smell of leather-bound covers and ancient paper was comforting. I looked at the books for hours, tracing my fingers over the spines, trying to find something that drew my attention. A rare copy of a great work or a book I've been looking for years would occasionally come to me. I was constantly anticipating what I may discover, and the feeling is just like that of me going on a treasure hunt.I could smell the musty smell of ancient books as soon as I pulled open the bookshop door and heard a bell above it ring out. I took a deep breath and felt all my stress gone.
This was where I felt joyful and safe. I browsed the book spines with my fingers as I made my way down the aisles, looking for something that drew my attention. Then I saw him, a tall, dark-haired man with blue eyes that seemed to see straight through me at that moment. His gaze was focused on a book he was holding while he stood by the fiction department. As soon as our eyes locked, I felt a chill go down my spine.After a while, he looked aside and muttered something under his breath, breaking the trance. I had a brief moment of disappointment, but I dismissed it by telling myself that I was being silly. I had never met the man.
Even though I kept perusing, m gaze kept returning to him. I wonder how I can feel so connected to a stranger. How weird! I thought about what he was reading and contemplating. While perusing the bookshelves, I happened to discover a rare copy of my beloved book. I let out a gasp of delight and grabbed for it.
However, as I did, a hand touched mine, and I turned to find the stranger grinning at me from next to me.He murmured something quietly, but I couldn't catch it at once. I raised my head to meet his beautifully made blue eyes, then he said again "Sorry about that," in a silky, quiet voice. "I didn't mean to startle you." My cheeks were coloured with a red shade of hue, blushing as I shook my head. It's alright. Simply said, I was thrilled about this book. With wrinkles in the corners of his eyes. You know the feeling that comes with finding a rare book, right? For a moment, we both held onto the book and touched hands while we stood there. An odd, personal moment occurred, and I experienced a jolt of energy. I was disappointed when he eventually release the book. My heart skipped a beat as he smiled, though. "Maybe I'll see you around," he said, humor glimmering in his eyes.I'm called Luca, by the way.
"I'm Emily," I answered in a slightly panting voice. Luca nodded while keeping his gaze fixed on mine, he said in his low deep baritone voice "It was nice meeting you, Emily."
A sensation of amazement filled me as I watched him leave. Who was this enigmatic stranger, and why did I connect with him so strongly? The feeling that my life was going to change in ways I couldn't even fathom persisted as I walked out of the bookshop.