She paid for her coffee, and then found a comfy armchair in a corner of the busy room.
This was totally new to her. To go to a coffee shop by herself, to buy a coffee, to sit down and read.
There were several things that were new, of course the biggest being the fact that she read an actual book. All this had happened suddenly, a change that just spun everything on its head. In the best way.
Ash, short for Aishling, was not ready to find enjoyment in her life, when, it just happened. To clarify though.
Two weeks ago, she would have never considered spending 4 euro 50 on a so and so cup of coffee in a coffee shop. The best coffee was the one she made herself! 100%
Two weeks ago, she would not have been comfortable being by herself in a coffee shop, fast food place or restaurant. She was sure people will look and see how weird and awkward she is.
Two weeks ago, she had not picked an actual book to read in over fifteen years, maybe even more if she was really honest with herself.
Two weeks ago she was ok, she truly was, but that was it. She was ok.
Ash went from home to work, to the shop, then home, and the cycle repeated itself. Under her ok layer, she felt a bit of fear of the time passing, of her growing older, alone, disconnected, unseen.
Under the layer of fear, she felt a bit of sadness for all her dreams that had been lost along the way deemed unreachable or futile.
Under the layer of sadness, she felt a bit of panic of a life unlived, unexperienced, unknown.
But Ash was ok, life is not meant to be easy, it is what it is, you do the best you can with what you have.
Then, two weeks ago, on a stone wall, I kid you not!, on a stone wall, she found a book in pristine condition, hardcover, beautifully colored and with gilded edges.
Ash looked around, she would have called out to anyone to ask if they lost the book, but there wasn’t anyone around. The next thought was to leave it there, the owner for sure will notice it missing and come back, but large black clouds were covering the sky foretelling of a significant storm. She could not leave it there, it will get soaked, so she took it.
At home, she put it in the living room and went about her business, then, when evening came with its gauze of anxiety Ash sat with the book and looked through it.
It was an exquisite edition of Irish fairy tales and myths. The paper was nice and thick, with beautifully embossed letters and clear writing. Funny and naughty images accompanied the stories, and Ash could not help herself to read them one after the other, until she fell asleep in the company of all those legendary characters.
The next day she woke up to find she had a great night’s sleep without fitful dreams or scary feelings.
When she left for work, she could not bear to leave the book at home so she put it in her back pack, and somehow, she did not feel so alone, she was carrying a world of stories on her back.
During her lunch break, instead of eating and working on her laptop, she took the book outside and almost chocked with laughter while reading about a messing leprechaun.
It was a good day.
On her way home, she saw a little notice stuck to the window of the small shop close to the stone wall. Somebody had lost the book and was looking for it. Ash’s heart sunk, she did not want to give it back. A plan formed in her mind instantly.
She turned around, got back on the bus, and went to the big Eason on O’Connell, if any book shop was to have a book like that, for sure it was them.
As Ash walked into Eason’s she felt a bit strange, she hadn’t gone in a book shop in ages, but as soon as she inhaled the book smell she felt at ease. Ash had no trouble in finding the book she was looking for and, as if the gods were with her, it was marked with a lovely discount.
Ash left the new book with the store owner to return it to the person that had lost it and happily went home accompanied by the book that belonged to her now. A trade had been completed and the dues were paid.
After finishing her coffee Ash put her book away and went back to work.
On her way home the store owner saw her and waved her in.
He handed her a package from the person that had lost the book.
Ash took it and went home, leaving the store owner disappointed to not know what it contained.
A bit worried that maybe the person had realized she swapped the books, Ash opened the package and inside it was another beautiful book, similar to the one she had, but this one contained legends and myths from across the world.
It was a gorgeous book, quite tick and beautifully illustrated. There was no name, just a thank you note, and Ash herself felt overwhelmed with gratitude, then she put the kettle to boil as she was desperate for a cup of tea and to read through the book.