A Skeleton

She opened her cupboard full of books. The usual smell of books greeted her. A content smile spread on her lips. She took several seconds to inhale and savour her favourite smell in the world and then started rummaging through the diaries, novels, thick books, study materials, notebooks to find the class notes she prepared a few days ago.

She searched all the shelves till she touched the smooth cover of a familiar book. She sighed. Her expressions suddenly turned grim. She crumpled in front of the open cupboard as though her knees had gone weak.

Her hands shook a little as she took the book in her hands. She caressed the smooth front cover with her fingertips. Slowly she opened the first page, where she knew it bore a message she had read a thousand times.. Till she had known it by heart and even after that. Those loving words that once- would make her stomach tingle with an inexplicable joy. Her treasure that, she always thought she would never forget to grab before running out of a burning house.

She could not read the words anymore. Her vision was blurred with the grief that suddenly shone in her eyes and her mind was clouded by the rush of the old memories.

She remembered the day when she had touched the book for the first time.

It only seemed like yesterday. As she unwrapped the gift, she cast loving glances at him. He was looking at her smiling, excited, rubbing his palms together... Egging her on to tear the wrapping fast...

She nearly screamed when she saw the book. 'My favourite book! I have always, Always wanted it!' She eyed it with avid eyes.

She turned a page and found his small handwriting that had traced a message in a corner.

'Thanks for coming in my life and making it Magical.'

She felt like the happiest girl in the world. 'It is the most awesome gift anyone could get me!' she told him as he took her in his arms.

She shook the memory off. She found herself shaking with rage. Before she knew what she was doing, she threw the book away with all the might she had, closed the cupboard with more force than required and moved to the window to stare into the silent starry night- the habit she recently took to.

She glanced back at the book stealthily. The front cover had got a fold. It lay open on the ground like a wounded soldier lying spread-eagled. She stared at the book she once loved, the book she knew she still loved. She couldn't take it anymore. She rushed and picked it up, closed it, straightened the front page with her palm carefully. With one long final look at it, she smelled it deeply closing her eyes. It did have that beautiful paper-like crisp smell in it. She opened the cupboard and stashed it away in a corner, stacked some random books onto it as if to bury it- although she knew how futile that was...

I have a skeleton of a book in my closet, she smiled at her own funny thought.