Golden Mirror.
This hasn't happened.
...
MYSTERY MAN: -quietly perusing a volume in the non-fiction stacks-
DEIRDRE: -rounds corner, sees MYSTERY MAN, stumbles and stubs toe despite sensible shoes, tries to smooth stride-
MYSTERY MAN: -doesn't notice-
DEIRDRE: -attempts to glide down aisle, decides on different tactic and switches glide to strut, glide and strut combine into a spastic waddle-
MYSTERY MAN: -still engrossed in tome-
DEIRDRE: -stops at a polite distance from MYSTERY MAN, takes an intense interest in books on shelf in front of her, casts the sides of her eyes to try and see what MYSTERY MAN is reading and assess his overall demeanour-
MYSTERY MAN: -turns page-
DEIRDRE: -selects semi-random volume that looks half-way intelligent and impressive enough to be caught with, reads first sentence in the introduction with a discerning expression, puckers face in silent, disapproving scoff, returns offensive book to shelf with haughty disdain-
MYSTERY MAN: - turns shoulder slightly more inward and away from fellow patron-
DEIRDRE: -notices the barely perceptible gesture, scours brain for a friendly word to unleash upon the situation-
MYSTERY MAN: -blinks-
DEIRDRE: -takes another book, fumbles and drops it-
MYSTERY MAN: -looks up reflexively at strange woman's flailing arms and book tossing-
DEIRDRE: -swiftly stooping, staring, stuttering- I'm sorry! Clumsy!
MYSTERY MAN: ... -blinks-
DEIRDRE: -picks up one book as if it were ten- Heh, heh. -drops knapsack, looks down at it in utter humiliation-
MYSTERY MAN: -is ill-mannered, even in a daydream, and doesn't offer assistance to a lady-
DEIRDRE: -collects self and other assorted objects, stands heavily, like getting out of a pool- Heh, heh. Well, that disrupted everyone's business at the library today, did it not? They ought not allow mad book-droppers like me in here!
MYSTERY MAN: -smiles wryly, or something vaguely smile-shaped, with corners of mouth gouging into cheeks in disinterested irritation-
DEIRDRE: -thinks to self, "Hm, the romantic scenarios I imagine for myself are rather discouraging..."-
MYSTERY MAN: -walks away, mysteriously-
...
Let us try again, shall we?
...
DEIRDRE: -walking along pavement, plucking mental fluffs of wool, spots MYSTERY MAN turning corner ahead of her-
MYSTERY MAN: -swift and cool about his business-
DEIRDRE: -combines a gasp and a squeak into funny little hiccup, trips over crack in the cement, falls onto hands, scraping them-
MYSTERY MAN: -approaches as dutiful concerned citizen- Are you all right?
DEIRDRE: -jaw unsure whether to clench in pain or drop in surprise, struggles to form words- Oo-ah, yes, yes, thank you, just a little tumble, take them all the time! Heh! Heh!
MYSTERY MAN: Here, let me help you up. -offers long, graceful hand, like that of a particularly masculine angel-
DEIRDRE: -accepts grasp, is lifted from ground as lightly as a plucked dandelion-
MYSTERY MAN: There, now. Oh, you're bleeding. We must get you cleaned up.
DEIRDRE: -blushes- I'm-I'm fine, it's nothing...
MYSTERY MAN: No, my dear, we wouldn't want you getting an infection. -leers- How about we take these little hands back to my place to apply something soothing, and see about giving you a distraction from the sting? -purses mouth and squints obscenely-
DEIRDRE: -pupils dilate, bites lower lip-
MYSTERY MAN: Here, let me kiss it and make it better...
...
Stuff and nonsense! But isn't that what the world's made of?
...
MYSTERY MAN: -sitting on park bench, reading something brilliant-
DEIRDRE: -having a stroll, notices neighbour, walks to his bench and sits beside him- What you reading?
MYSTERY MAN: "-insert brilliant title-."
DEIRDRE: Hmm, heard of it, never read it. Any good?
MYSTERY MAN: -cocks head in half shrug- Fairly.
DEIRDRE: You know, I have seen you about before, and wondered what you liked to read, and here you are reading, and now I know! Or at least the one book, anyway.
MYSTERY MAN: -interest piqued- Are you a reader, then?
DEIRDRE: Oh, yes. I haven't much tolerance for television. Novels are my television. Just as time consuming, but more enlivening for the imagination. -smiles, and means it-
MYSTERY MAN: -smiles back, and means it-
DEIRDRE: -continues smiling, looking at MYSTERY MAN in companionable silence-
MYSTERY MAN: -continues the easy silence, smile softening, gaze intensifying-
DEIRDRE: -eyes twinkling, heart light but sure, sighs, lowers head upon MYSTERY MAN's shoulder in gesture as natural as two horses gently greeting one another on a field-
MYSTERY MAN: -words unneeded, places hand upon DEIRDRE's head, strokes hair, shares breath-
...
Or, more likely:
DEIRDRE: -dies alone in hospital-
MYSTERY MAN: -dies alone in bed-
...
Damn it. Damn it all.
