Vellichor
Vellichor: n. the strange wistfulness of used bookstores, which are somehow infused with the passage of time—filled with thousands of old books you'll never have time to read, each of which is itself locked in its own era, bound and dated and papered over like and old room the author abandoned years ago, a hidden annex littered with thoughts left just as they were on the day they were captured.
Rory's most favorite bookstores were the ones that carried Jess's work, naturally. But her second-most favorite bookstores were old, hole in the wall type places that sold used books. She wasn't quite sure how to explain it, but stepping over the threshold of bookstores like that made her feel like she was stepping back in time.
"C'mon," Rory says, pulling on Jess's hand to divert him from the path they had been walking down a random street in Philadelphia.
"This isn't the way to Carlito's," Jess answers, though he has always been more than happy to follow Rory Gilmore wherever she may lead.
"Italian food can wait. I want to check this place out."
As soon as her feet made contact with the unfinished wood floors, Rory knew she'd made a good choice. The tiny shop was overfilled with wonderfully old books, so that it seemed a flood of them could come streaming onto the street at any moment.
Rory breathed deeply, inhaling the sweet smell of old books, while Jess watched her with dancing, dark eyes.
"Find the oldest book in here." Rory lets go of his hand to move into the precarious stacks of books. She is energy personified, her curled hair bouncing as she moves.
It's a game they often play when they happen upon a used bookstore. Each person finds what they believe to be the oldest book; then, they show the other person their chosen book. Whoever has the oldest book is the winner.
"We'll be here all night," Jess points out. "I thought you were hungry."
But he complies, picking up book after book and opening them to the page that contains all the publishing information. Some of the books don't have those pages, but rather a publication date written in ink inside the front cover.
Just when Jess thinks he's got her beat—he's found a novel marked with the publication date July 2nd, 1807—when Rory comes all but sprinting towards him. She doesn't stop in time, so that she comes crashing into Jess and he has to wrap his arms around her to steady the both of them before they fall right to the floor in a heap of laughter.
"Look at this!" She says, her voice breathy with excitement and laughter.
Rory presents Jess with a tiny, leather bound book. Inside, the pages are filled with ink written in a calligraphic hand. On the very first page are the words:
Utopia
Thomas Moore, 1516
The excitement on Rory's face is undeniable as Jess cups her face between his hands and kisses her smiling mouth.
"Alright, you win. This time."