I swallow hard as I toss my footwear to the side, my hands brushing against my jeans an an attempt to clean them off before I handle the book.
"Okay... Let's just..." I mutter, gently grabbing at the paper and pulling the book free. As I slide it out I find myself holding a strange indigo leather tome with an image of oddly shaped humanoids and tendrils etched into the cover, the cover practically throbbing in my hand like some living thing.
The sea air still clings to me as I slowly navigate my car through the busy city streets, the gridlock traffic being a far cry from the quiet cobblestone lane ways that weaved their way through my parent's new home town. Sea sticks to my skin, the scent of the ocean permeating my clothes and my face remaining flushed from the mild wind burn I had suffered on the ferry back.
The holidays had been a moderately relaxing time, far from my worries and cares in the city and out visiting family at their new cozy island home. However, despite extension after extension of my stay I had found myself needing to return to the job hunt and my old cramped apartment.
As my car jostles over a speed bump I hear the rustling of paper in the passengers seat, my hand reaching over to the plain brown paper parcel bound in simple twine to hold it stead. My heart raced with excitement as I place my hand on the paper, my fingers feeling a firm hardcover laying beneath.
