Julie Tagg| Short Story Collection

So I have decided to step outside of these reviews and analysis and delve into my passion… writing stories and poems… Let me know what you think in the comments sections…

In the heart of a bustling city stood a small, cozy bookstore. It was visible to everyone but hidden from everyone. It seemed almost out of place among the towering skyscrapers. For those who sought the escape from the world, it was a haven. It held the comfort of the written words and the smell of aged paper. Keke had been the owner of the quaint establishment for as long as anyone could remember. She had poured her soul into every inch of the store. Each book was carefully selected, each shelf lovingly dusted.

She was a third generation book store owner. And she had vowed to her grandfather on his dying bed to never let go of this store. There were memories that no one could understand. Her grandfather had struggled to give her everything after her parents had died. And she owed this to him. She had made her first step and said her first words in this store. Her parents had died when she was born. And Grand-D had taken her in on his own.

She had made her life here in the bustling city of New Goshing. Not because she had wanted to but because had to. It was a burden she bore. It was hers to keep. Despite the many offers she had received in the past, Gran-D’s store was not for sale. She had left but had returned when Grand-D asked her to. She never hesitated. Because she knew the sacrifices he had made for her and she knew what this store meant to him.

She was glad he had called her home. Because even with his many efforts to help her to find a husband, she was never ready to settle outside of New Goshing. It was home for her.

Grand D had sent her away to study to become a doctor but she had no interest. She had longed to returned to the only home she had ever known.

She had returned with one goal. And that was to continue her grandfather’s dream of providing an escape for those who wanted to explore the written word.

As she stood musing on her past she felt no regrets. She looked towards each new day for new adventures.

Adventures came daily. And she enjoyed every last customer who graced the doors.

But…

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow through the front windows, Keke was sorting through a box of new arrivals. The chime of the door announced a visitor, but she didn’t look up, lost in the world of stories waiting to be shelved.

“Excuse me,” a gentle voice called out. Keke glanced up to see an elderly woman standing by the counter, her eyes twinkling with a familiar warmth. “I’m looking for a book, but I can’t seem to recall the name.”

Keke smiled and approached, ready to assist. “I’ll do my best to help you find it. Do you remember what it’s about?”

The woman described a tale of adventure and lost love, a story that seemed to resonate with Keke’s own life. As they searched together, the woman shared snippets of her life, each one weaving into the next like chapters in a book. Keke found herself captivated, the connection between them growing stronger with every word.

Finally, they found the book nestled between two larger volumes on a shelf that Keke had always felt drawn to. They had been a gift to her from an old friend but she had not read them. As the woman took the book into her hands, she sighed, a contented smile gracing her lips. “Thank you, dear. This means more to me than you know.”

Julie watched as the woman paid for the book and turned to leave. But before she stepped out, she paused and looked back at Keke with a gaze that seemed to pierce through time itself. “Cherish this place,” she said softly. “Not all stories have a happy ending.”

The door closed behind the woman, and Keke was left standing in a sudden, profound silence. She felt a chill despite the warmth of the store. It was then that she noticed an envelope on the counter, addressed to her in elegant handwriting. With trembling hands, she opened it to find a notice from the city. The building was set for demolition, making way for new development. Her heart sank. She knew this was the end.

The bookstore was more than just a business to Keke; it was a part of her, a sanctuary for her dreams and memories. As she looked around at the shelves that had stood witness to countless stories, both within their pages and beyond, she felt a deep sense of loss.

But as the initial shock faded, determination took its place. Keke knew that the end of one story could be the beginning of another. She would fight for her bookstore, rally the community, and write a new chapter. The story wasn’t over yet, and with a resolve as strong as the spines of the books that surrounded her, Keke set out to save the heart of her world.