I look over at my friend and poor him a glass of lemon water. We waited for the waiter to come as we stared over the dawn trickling up from the sea. It had been a long night. The waiter comes and I order for both of us. Breathing in the seawater air and sighing about the long day to come. Breakfast came and went and I procrastinated on leaving as the sun finally rises from the sea and disappears back into the fog.
"We should go" he says with a smile. I smile back.
"We should." On our way out the waiter gives us a weird look. I snort as we're out of earshot. "What's their problem?"
" Probably just jealous of how handsomely archaic you look." He says as he twirls back to face me, full of excitement for a new day. I sigh and shake my head smiling. I wasn't wearing anything particularly elaborate. Just a vest over an artist's smock. Maybe it was my boots. I do love these boots.
We taped down the street, him at a hop, me at a saunter. After a few blocks down the street we come to our bookshop. It was small and cozy, but a bit chilly as I unlock the door and step into the threshold. I go to start a fire as he slops onto the reading couch.
"Aren't you going to do something productive?" I scat at him.
"It's not like you pay me" he smirks, his head hanging over the couch arm to look at me. He looked ridiculous with his hair standing up all which ways despite gravity. I toss in another few logs to get it roaring and went to put the kettle on for Miss. Burack. I shoo him off the couch as my regular came in shuffling from the cold. Miss. Burack was an elderly woman who always came in for tea and a new book in the mornings. Today she seemed particularly sore so I offered her some warm rocks in a towel. She popped them behind her back as she sat. I handed her a new book. It was a short mystery about a boy who smiled at nothing.
She got halfway through before declaring that today was knitting day at the community center. She handed me yesterday's book as she made it out the door, standing straighter and with more step. I smiled as I knew it was what I could do to help her.
People came and went. It was a slow day and the fog never really burned off. He came shuffling out of the back and offered to make me lunch, but I insisted I make it myself. By the time night fell I could barely stand. I closed shop and went in the back and grabbed books to restock the shelves. He came back and pointed to one that was sitting in the corner.
"Miss. Burack might like that one" his face was genuine and relaxing to look at. I grabbed the book and we headed to close the store.
"I don't think I've ever introduced you to her." I pondered."do you know her?"
"Eh... You know me, I know everyone and nobody knows me!" He laughs.
"Aww come-on, your face is just... Forgettable" I tease.
We hunker down in our one room apartment. I make sandwiches for dinner , and before I know it he's full and asleep on the couch. I hobble over to my bed and look at my clock... It's one in the morning... Again. I collapse into the blankets feeling cold.
Why am I always cold...
Again and again, over and over. Breakfast, smile, Miss. Burack, lunch, customers, restock, dinner, sleep. Is it sleep if I never really dream? I don't know if I'm asleep or if I'm just lying in the dark. I hear him mutter something in his sleep as I wake and feel less alone.
Today I have a story about wolves in a city.
Today I have a story about a princess.
Today I have a story about a mouse knight.
Today I have a story about...
"How are you feeling dear? You look miserable!" Miss. Burack breaks our small casual chat.
"I'm fine miss! Just a bit sleepy." I smile at her, wanting her to be content with my answer... I'm not Shure why I want that... I'm not lying. She's just concerned.
"Are you Shure? I bet you're spending too much time alone." She pinches my cheek suddenly.
"Im not always alone! I hang out with my friend all the time!" She sighs and shakes her head. Reaching into her purse she pulls out yesterday's book and a small canvas baggie.
"It's tea. Steep it bag and all, and drink before bed." She pinches my cheek again as she hobbles off to teach a baking lesson. I sigh at the bag and smile shaking my head in confusion at him as he shrugs from the register.
The day goes by again in a blur. I restock, and pick out a story of a sleeping giant for Miss. Burack. stumbling back to our room I sluggishly make the tea, nearly burning myself with the splosh as I drop in the teabag. Once it cools I add Honey and drink it down. I feel the room start to fuzz as I but out the lights. I fell into bed, and I think he covered me. I'm not Shure. The world turns colorful as I get pulled into every story at once, some I can't even remember reading. Then they turned into nothing I could remember. I couldn't make any sense out of them. But it was night and fun and I relaxed into them. I woke to light beaming into my eyes.
It wasn't foggy. The light was the sun reflecting off or the metal roofing. Suddenly realizing what that must mean I glance at the clock and rush to throw on a something decent and stumbled out the door. As I ran down the street I saw Miss. Burack and jogged up ahead of her as she chuckled. Unlocking the store I apologized about the chill and went to put on the fire. She settled on the couch as I offered her and extra blanket. I put on the kettle and handed her her new book
"Sleep well, did you?" She said pulling some banana bread from her purse in addition to yesterday's book.
"Too well I'm afraid. My roommate didn't even wake me!" I sigh wondering where he is.
"Oh! I thought you lived on Hillson? Aren't those apartments only one person rooms?" She handed me two slices of the cakey bread.
"It can be cramped, but we make it work", I say sheepishly as I tidy up the store as customers start coming in. I opened the register and made Shure Miss. Burack had her tea. The day sloshes by as I keep thinking about all the random colors and scenes I saw in my sleep. I start to wear out again as the day comes to an end. I'm restocking when he comes in and offers to make me tea. I shake my head annoyed and continue grabbing books.
"Aw come-on, are you mad I didn't wake you? You looked so peaceful. And the lady's right you know, you needed rest. You made it here on time didn't you?" He makes a silly face. I sigh... How can I be mad. I grab the last books and drop one. It's a guide to historical bread making. I set that aside for tomorrows book of the day as I finish and head home. He falls asleep immediately as I lay in bed . The clock said twelve forty five. What is it now? One? Two? How long have I been lying here. I know if I look at the clock I'll never sleep so I role over until I hang in the void of darkness. I feel alone... I'm not alone... right....?
