Gemotions

The small, cluttered bookstore smelled of old paper and leather. Ben browsed, running his fingers across the spines of ancient tomes. He’d never had time for this before. He had always been so concerned with the future that he had forgotten to appreciate the present.

The woman, now a friend, was going to meet him here later. They planned to swap books and then walk along the river. This strange shared trauma had turned into a friendship.

Ben found a worn copy of "Leaves of Grass" and smiled. He had spent his life chasing shadows, and now the sunshine felt different. The weight that he had been carrying for so long had vanished.