Jeremy

The book arrived a day early: a lovely, simple red with just a few gold glints, a scalloped oval surrounding 420 and a tiny dolphin descending. Then, today at the cafe, a dead gnat lit on the cover as I smoked. I went to brush it away. It smudged; a once-living thing became a stain, to the naked eye no different from a bit of wet ash or an old booger. If I had my microscope, I'm sure it would shine like liquid ebony.