The books were sold for half of their price, but they were rarely bought now. It was dark, and the street lights were on. At this moment, he wished that it could just snow. All of a sudden, he stopped in his tracks as someone had just passed him. They were dressed in a hoodie, but at the side, you could see the clean-trimmed, uneven hair. He turned around and saw the figure; they were standing at the entrance of the bookstore. It was Rhea. She looked almost soulless. He wanted to approach her, but what if she actually didn't want to be seen? What if she left again, and this time, he wouldn't be able to find her? He clenched his hand tightly on the rope of his bag. Her smile had disappeared so completely that even the bookstore couldn't restore it. What had happened to her in those ten years? What had happened that she had lost her light? He was still standing there when, all of a sudden, she turned. He couldn't even react in time as their eyes locked. The world seemed to stand still as they stared at each other, seeing each other in the most unexpected place. It couldn't be a coincidence when both of them weren't looking for the other.
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I was surprised to see Denver, how could we run into each other here of all places. He also looked surprised to see me but it took. He still approached me, I couldn't even walk away, my body was frozen to the spot and then he was here, the distance between us barely closing up, his fruity scent wafted through my senses, his hazel eyes on mine and his strong yet gentle presence made itself known. And he smiled warmly at me, it was cautious. I didn't know what to say to him. I didn't know the expressions to make or the emotions I had to convey. Anything I did right now will seem forceful. The street light above us lit up, I could see him clearly now, he had become more handsome over the years, perfectly shaped eyebrows, flawless face, almond-shaped and hazel eyes that seemed to glow under the light, straight pointed nose, slightly tanned skin, and his lips were slightly downturn with a soft warm rose hue, and tousled slightly long dark brown hair with warm undertones, he was effortlessly attractive.
It was awkward as we stood there, he should have not approached me, was it too late to run away— "Rhea… it's nice seeing you here", he said , he sounded nervous, he was confident when he spoke to me the other day but today he seemed a bit shy, I needed to also say something before things became more akward, " it's also....nice to see you...", after that there was nothing to say, we just looked at each other, the silence was defeating, it won't be right if I just walked away so I prayed desperately that he would walk away first but looking at him he didn't seem like he wanted to walk away anytime soon instead it was like he wanted to say more but I didn't want to hear it.
Something cold dropped on my face, then another , I looked up and it was snowing , the signs were clear but it was still unexpected, he stretched out his hand as the flakes fell on his hand, " it's snowing ...", he said, his voice gentle, under the street light, the snow , the bookstore and now this man before me I actually felt at peace , a feeling I had not experienced for a long time, I felt that urge to feel the snow but...I just couldn't, if I did that I will feel hopeful for the next day , I didn't want to feel that way because I know tomorrow will just get worse.
" Let's get coffee...", his voice came as a waking call to me, " coffee?", I repeated, "yes... coffee", like as if it was necessary to take it, I tucked my hands into my hoodie, should I reject the offer?, the plan was to drive him away right, if I accept this he will keep on approaching, " no.....I don't want to", I said simply, he didn't look surprised like he was already expecting that, he bent his head low in defeat with a hung up smile, " well I can't push you to getting coffee with me .....we need somewhere quiet", he said as he glanced up at me ,quiet?, why would we need a quiet place , he smiled as he dug his hand into the bag he was holding and to my surprise he brought out my book " tale of thorns and roses", I looked up at him, it had been blacklisted from all the bookstores, how...., I looked over at the bookstore then at the book, " then you can sign it here right.....I'm a big fan you know", he said with a smile as he held the book in his hand, I should be happy right?, the bookstore I loved so much still sold my book but.....I was angry,I felt pathetic and I hated it, Denver, my book, this bookstore, I looked at Denver with so much resentment that he felt the shift in the air, he noticed the change in my expression and he was confused, " Rhea ...what's wrong , did I do any....", I didn't let him finish as I knocked the book from his hand , he was taken aback by my sudden outburst but I just shoved him aside and ran, the snow prickling my skin, the cold air knocking almost all the breath from my lungs but I didn't stop because he was running after me,my legs were weak but I pushed through but he was fast, I heard him calling my name, it was desperate,lost, confused, a tone I had not heard in such a long time and then he caught me stopping me instantly.
I could feel my cold breath leave my mouth as I panted, he softly grabbed me by my shoulder and turned me to him, " Rhea .....let's talk huh....", he didnt rush me like he was waiting for me to catch my breath but I roughly removed his hand which had gently held my shoulder, " are you mocking me right now....", I asked , I could feel that my voice had gone cold, it came out harsh, he looked confused, " mocking you....?", he questioned, he took a step closer to me , " how was I mocking you...., I just told you to sign...", "THAT IS IT!!!!, THAT IS IT....., why would you ask me to sign when you know about my situation, you and the others just barged into my life and you expect me to be okay with it and you knowing and not asking.....it suffocating", I just let it out at that moment, everything I had held in from the moment I had seen him at that reunion, I despised him at this very moment, his eyes softened as his gaze lingered on mine, I sighed ,I was frustrated, " don't come after me...", saying that I walked away , I didn't bother to look back and before I knew it I was running, I ran so fast , I had almost let my guard down and finally I was at my apartment, I went into the corridors and entered the elevator, my chest still heavy from the run, three elderly women entered the elevator with me, they were going to the fourth floor, I didn't greet them, this was the first time I was seeing them, the elevator opened for the fourth floor and they exited, then I finally reached my floor.
I was exhausted as I stepped out from the elevator and then I heard it, loud knocking, it was aggressive like whoever was knocking like that was ready to tear down the door, I was the only one on this floor, dread washed over me, was Daniel back, I started to panic, what was he going to do to me, I still haven't thought of anything to write, " WHERE THE HELL IS THAT BITCH!!!!!!.....", my heart stopped as soon as I heard that voice, it was my uncle, what was he doing here , I saw him pull out his phone , my eyes went wide with panic as I ruffled through my hoodie, my mind was in shambles , my hands trembling as I tried to pull out my phone but my palms were sweaty causing my phone to constantly slip away, the elevator was full so there was no way I was getting out of here, then.....it happened, it rang, it was deafening , I froze , I wanted to run away but there was no where to run, he turned and saw me, " RHEA!!!....", he yelled my name , anger blazing in his eyes, he walked up to me in long strides and then he slapped me so hard that I fell to the floor, my head was spinning, my ear was ringing it was deafening. A certain warmth spread inside my mouth and it tasted metallic, he chuckled darkly, it was sarcastic and sardonic, " wow...you have audacity.....what....you think you are all that, you thought I wouldn't find you, why hasn't Daniel paid us yet, aren't you the one he normally comes to or...", he turned to me , his gaze darkened, " are you hiding the money you bitch....., are you taking us all for fools, HUH!!!!!!...", I looked up at him, my hair getting in the way of my sight at then I spat at his feet,it was blood, it didn't land on his shoe but it was act of rebellion, it was like I was testing him, " you.....", " money?...that is what you care about, HOW CAN YOU USE YOUR OWN FAMILY TO GET MONEY", I blurted out, my voice raised, I knew the repercussion of my words but I didn't care, I didn't filter any word,I have had enough , he looked like he was going to kill me.
He took a hold of my hoodie by the collar as he dragged me up to my feet, " hey.....what did you say, I dare you...., WHAT DID YOU SAY YOU FUCKER!!!!....", he yelled , his breath stank of tobacco, " LET GO, LET ME GO...", I yelled with all my might as I tried to free myself but his grip tightened, " you still have the audacity to speak to me like that after I had practically raised you, when your father died and your good for nothing mother was spreading her legs, who took care of you, who fed you, shouldn't you pay me one way or the other ,HUH!....", he yelled at me, I winced in pain and then he pushed me to the floor , I fell and hit my back so hard, my cheek was sore and the environment felt hazy, the ringing in my ear had not stopped since the slap, he approached me again, was he going to kill me, was this the end?, " you useless bitch, I am going to.....", he raised his hand to hit me but I shielded away, I was partially ready for the hit then.....I heard it, something shattered against something, a heavy thud, the smell of earth, crushed flowers and blood mixed with air and then...there was silence, I slowly removed my hand from my face and what a scene that presented itself, my uncle was on the floor face flat, his head was bleeding, the floor scattered with broken pieces of terracotta vase, scattered soil ,crushed flowers and blood, it was dripping, my breath almost choking as I looked up at Denver, his chest faintly rising, beads of sweat on his head but he wasn't looking at me, he was looking at my uncle, blood dropped from his hand but he didn't care as he looked at my uncle with a deep emotion that I could easily tell was resentment.