Sunrise Sunset

Sarah finished her story and the children all clapped and at Dee’s request thanked Sarah and then Sarah returned the book to its resting place.
Children started to throng Dee and rush about the store looking for their parents. The hush that had taken over the shop when Sarah was speaking now a memory.

The student was busy ringing up people’s purchases and Sarah was at a loss as to what to do. Normally she would be bringing Dee a cup of tea and helping customers, but Dee had a cup and the new girl was serving the customers.

Then Sarah noticed a Dee was talking to a tall man. It was the customer from yesterday. So he had come back, she thought to herself. Sarah picked up the yellow leather book from the cabinet and looked at it.
There was no title on the cover so Sarah opened up the old book and tried to read the title.

It was in an alphabet that Sarah didn’t understand in the slightest so she assumed it was the right book. Just as she started to close the book she saw that there was some handwriting on the other side of the page.

She quickly flipped it over and tried to read the spidery writing.

The ink was faded with age and the letters were spaced quite close together. Sarah was barely able to make out “To my dearest,” then there were a few lines she couldn’t make out but she saw the words “dream, future, and past” then it was signed with an elaborate J.

No full name or anything just the letter J, like in a love letter from years gone by.

Sarah realised that Dee’s husband must have given this book to her. Dee always went on about how her husband taught her to love stories and books. Why did Dee want to give this cherished memento away?

Sarah closed the book and carried it behind her back as she approached Dee and the stranger. She had a thousand questions on her lips when she saw him turn around.

The old book fell from her hands as her eyes landed on a face she hadn’t seen in 7 years.

Those dazzling incompatible eyes laughed at her behind round glasses. Subtly different than her dreams he was still arrogant and daunting. He was as magnificent in everyday clothes as he was in his outlandish pomp and flounce of his court clothes. His sharp features softened by a few tendrils of hair that had worked their way free of the loose pony tail he had confined it to.

Sarah’s empty hand went to her mouth where the memory of his kiss still lingered. Even after 7 years she could still taste him. Much had changed in that time, but it seemed he hadn’t.

“Sarah, this gentleman says he knows you.” Dee interrupted Sarah’s reminiscences. “He came over to talk to me and see if I was well.”
“After her collapse yesterday I was worried for her.” Jareth spoke smoothly, not whispering anymore. His voice ran through her like ice water sending shivers down her spine. She had heard him speak in her dreams but they never affected her this way. Something had awoken in her when she saw his face; something primal and untapped.

Sarah bent down to pick up the book, trying to hide her flushed face. She needed time to gather her thoughts. He had been here yesterday and she didn’t know, she had been so preoccupied with Dee and her fall that she hadn’t noticed the man of her dreams standing in front of her.

“Umm yes we have met.” Sarah mumbled hold the yellow leather book close to her chest. She walked the few steps to Dee’s chair and gave the book to the older woman.
Sarah didn’t notice Jareth’s eyes following the book closely, she kept her eyes on Dee trying not to look at him.

Looking at him unnerved her, she hadn’t really expected him to just walk into her life like this. How was she going to explain how they met? How they knew each other? She stared hard at Dee trying to form answers to questions she knew were coming.

Dee smiled her matronly smile and took the book from the younger woman. “As you can see I am quite well now. Just the foibles of age catching up with me and nothing more.”

“You could have injured yourself very badly had Sarah not caught you.” As he mentioned her name Sarah was shot through with electric sparks of awareness. He sounded so possessive when he said her name. The scary thing was she liked him sounding like that.

“Sarah takes good care of me.” Dee patted her hand. “Well now since the introductions have been made,” chu chuckled “how ever informally. Let us talk business. You wanted a Copy of the Iliad in Greek.”
“Yes I did” Jareth nodded
“We happen tve ave a copy in ancient Greek right here….”
“Dee you can’t! That was a gift to you from your husband!” Sarah interrupted. Jareth may be the man of her dreams, but Dee was the grandmother of her heart and she wasn’t going to let her give away her precious memories.
“Sarah, how do you know that it was a gift from my husband?” Dee asked her eyes wide.
“When I checked to see if I had picked the right book I saw there was a note written on the opposite side of the title page. I could only make out a little of it but I know it was given to you and it was given to you with love. You can’t sell that.”

Jareth smiled quietly to Dee and nodded his head, he was still behind Sarah so she couldn’t see his actions but Dee could. She relaxed a little and smiled at the girl.

“Sarah, sweet heart, I wasn’t going to sell this. I merely wanted to show it to your friend. But what is a book to me these days pet? My husband has been gone for 30 years, and I will be soon as well. I can’t take this book with me.”

“Maybe not, but you can hold on to it for as longs as you are here.” Sarah knelt down and took Dee’s hands in hers. “I don’t know what has started all this talk about you leaving us Dee, but I’m not giving up on you yet.”
She looked up in to the older woman’s eyes and whispered, “I love you, and I’m not letting go.”

Sarah’s whispers we drowned out in the chaos of the bookstore as children ran about showing their parents what books they wanted for Christmas, and people making purchases. But two people heard her.

Outside the first few snow flakes started to fall.