Starting Off Wrong [𝐠𝐱𝐠]

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟑: 𝐀𝐧 𝐀𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭-𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠

"This may take a while," Aurelia states, keeping her eyes towards the front counter. The line moves up as the person in the front walks away with their treat. She turns to me. "You can go exploring to the nearby shops," she offers.

"What?" I ask. "But I want to wait with you."

Aurelia chuckles and says, "But I want you to go exploring." She looks back towards the line and says, "There's no point in us both waiting for this line."

"Aurelia," I say, crossing my arms.

She looks back to me and says, "I'm being serious you know." She puts her hand on my shoulder and says, "How about you go somewhere close by, so I can pick a surprise treat for you?"

Before I can answer, she quickly says, "And I'm not taking no for an answer, so get going." She giggles again as she faces the front again.

I start walking away and glance back, at her head of thick curly hair, until finally making my way to the shop exit.

I open the door, the small bell above the door signaling my departure. I walk a bit out into the empty sidewalk. The streets are strangely more crowded than they were on our day trip. I guess no one likes to walk around the city during the weekend.

Today, the streets are covers with cars and people litter the streets, all holding bags containing expensive products and some talk loudly on their phones or to their companion.

I head the the right, stopping at the next store. That way it will be easier for Aurelia to find me.

I read the sign at the top of the store. The letters are thickly indented onto the wood frame of the store.
"Bin of Books," I say out loud to myself. It sounds familiar. Have I been here before?

I try to peak into the shop, but with the sun shining brightly today, all I see is my reflection. I spoon out the top of my hair, before reaching for the door handle and letting myself inside.

I immediately remember everything as soon as I step into the bookstore.

The mobiles on the ceiling call out to me, making me feel like I'm walking into my memories again. I notice a short step-stool on the side.

Recalling out I wanted to touch one of them, I step up on the stool and gently reach my hand up. Before touching any, I look around to find which one I should touch.

Finally, I gently push a butterfly, watching it twist into motion.

I smile to myself as I walk down the steps and continue looking through the shelves. I stop at a certain spot, noticing what Aurelia and I were laughing about the last time we were here.

I look at the cat dressed as a clown, still grumpy, and feel a giggle escape my lips.

When Aurelia finds me, I'll show her again.