Sunday, March 29, 2009

What do you see?

"Your book is due back April 27th." She said handing a gray colored book.
"Oh, Thanks." I responded. I reached my right hand forward and took the book from her. I accidentally brushed her hand, cold. It isn't uncommon for women to have cold hands, most women nowadays suffer from poor circulation. But her skin was shockingly cold. I looked up at her, she was probably 64 give or take a year. Nothing about her seemed particularly special. Her white skin had grown saggy and spotty because of old age. Her eyes were strikingly green. Strange. Her eyes did not fit her face. She had young eyes. Behind layers of old aged skin, the eyes of an eighteen year old girl.
"Ma'am." Her voice shattered my thoughts.
"uh, yeah?" I replied still startled.
"Your book?"
"Oh...yes. Thank you." I answered regaining composure. I took the book and placed it in my purse.
"Is there anything else I can help you with?" She asked folding her arms.
"Uh...yes...one more thing. What is your name?"
She smiled and said, "Annabella."
"Annabella..Annabella." I whispered the name twice. I wasn't sure if it fit her. "Annabella." I said the third time, this time situating the name to her face." I like it."
"Thank you. Ma'am are you ok?" She asked. Her face looked terrified.
"Yes I am fine. Goodbye Annabella." I then began to slowly walk out of the library. I looked down at my watch it was almost 3:30 PM, If I didn't hurry I would be very late. Annabella...Annabella...Annabella...The name kept ringing in my head. Such young eyes. Like she had never grown old. What was keeping her eyes?
Before I exited through the double doors I turned back and looked at her. She stood at the circulation desk. We made eye contact briefly and I read her life. I saw everything in those piercing green eyes. Finally with a flutter of my eyelashes we broke eye contact and I knew what was keeping those eyes.
...

"Did you see that?" Annabella Bianchi asked.
"See what?" The woman sitting next to her responded taking her reading glasses off.
"That weird girl that just came in. She asked me my name and then started singing it."
"No. I didn't see her. That is odd. Maybe she is on drugs. Those teenagers are all on drugs now."
"No, she wasn't a teenager. She was probably forty." She stated picking up a rack of books and placing them on a cart.
"She could still be on drugs." The woman added.
"Maybe. Strange. Alright Harriet I am going to put these books back on the shelf." She began wheeling the cart over.
"Have fun!" Harried shouted and Annabella gave her a stern look.
"This is a library!" Harried waved her arms in response.

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