The week that followed was specially turbulent for Will. Every day he went to the bookstore after class but it kept being closed, day after day. He could not sleep for four nights and during the day it became more and more difficult to feel/be present. He spent his class exhausted and when he was at home he felt disturbed. There was a restlessness that would not abandon him and he felt trapped inside a dark aquarium from which he could not get out. He had started to see Hannibal not only in his dreams but also when he was awake, when he walked the streets, or during his lectures, he saw his former psychiatrist's face in other people's when he glanced, but when he looked again it was already gone. It felt like a ghost was chasing him and hunting him and he could not escape.
One day, after his class it rained violently, the skies were dark and loaded and the water ran down the street like a river. He stopped at the school gates as he realized he didn't have an umbrella. He thought about going straight home, but the walk to the bookstore had become a ritual, even though it was on the other side of town. He followed the opposite way of home, he was going to go to the bookstore, it would be closed but it did not matter, the time he spent at home was atrocious anyway. People passed by him running and hiding beneath the umbrellas, but he walked calmly, the rain fell could on his face and his hair dripped, soon his clothes were soaked wet against his body.
He turned the corner that led into the small alley, and with surprise realized the lights were on inside the bookstore. A warmth grew inside his chest and he rushed to the unlocked door. Upon entering he felt the heat reach him through his wet clothes, there was a small fireplace that he never noticed and it had a gentle fire burning, in the air hung the scent of rosemary. He took a deep breath as if after a long time his demons had calmed inside him. He approached the fire warming his freezing hands
"Seems unwise to have a fireplace in a store full of books." He thought grateful that someone had been so reckless.
Suddenly he noticed there was a young woman behind the counter staring at him with a serious look.
"Oh, I'm sorry, the door was unlocked, and it's raining a lot out there." He said bewildered as a response to her inquisitive look.
"Well, you can tell." She answered dryly. After there was a big silence in which neither of them moved. Will felt embarrassed, he wasn't expecting to find someone other them Julia there and suddenly was conscious of how his informal behavior could seem strange, it certainly was, even to him.
"Can I help you with anything…?" said the young woman looking to the books on the shelves. Will felt even worse, he had forgotten the purpose of entering there was to buy books.
"Hum, yes. What do you suggest?" he asked on an inglorious effort to save his reputation.
"What are you looking for?" Now she was clearly mocking him and that angered him.
"Adventures. I mean, adventure books."
"That's what we have more, can you be more specific?"
"Dragons!" He exclaimed violently flushed by the irritation of having to make such a sudden and unexpected effort of socialization.
The girl past by him without giving him a look and took some time searching the shelves. She picked up four books and took them to her client without saying a word.
"Thank you, I take them all." He said abruptly taking the books without knowing why. The girl looked at him startled.
They both went to the counter and Will took out the money. While she went to get the change he watched her more carefully. She was quite young, not older than 25, skinny and tall with a long neck that appeared white under the shabbiness of her dark hair. When she turned to him he could see her eyes, of a blue so deep he sworn to be lost in them for a few seconds. As she realized he was examining her a violent flush colored her face.
"There you go." She said looking angry.
"Excuse me…" he interrupted himself before leaving the store. She looked at him irritated. "The lady that works here, Julia, where is she?" He couldn't contain his curiosity and concern that the nice lady had been replaced by such an unfriendly and antisocial creature. She seemed to soften after hearing that name.
"She is my grandmother. She's ill in bed and couldn't come to the shop, so I'm replacing her while she doesn't feel better."
"I'm so sorry to hear that. Tell her I wish she gets better soon."
"And should I speak of you as the dragons' boy or do you have another name?" She asked ironically.
"Will, my name is Will." He said annoyed by the provocation and stormed out the shop without another word.
He cursed all the way home, thinking about how ridiculous he must have looked. He didn't even noticed it had stooped raining.