His Words Had Tossed The Book That

Had Any Poet Adequately Described The Wretched Ugliness Of A Loved One Turned Inside Out With Grief?

I Probably Coughed Self-pityingly In Response, Little Aware That I Was About To Cross A Tremendous Threshold Beyond Which There Would Be No Return, That In My Hands I Held An Object Whose Simple Appearance Belied Its Profound Power. All True Readers Have A Book, A Moment, Like The One I Describe, And When Mum Offered Me That Much-read Library Copy Mine Was Upon Me.

...which Fairy-tale Princess Ever Chose Her Maid Over Her Prince?

She Hadn't Wanted To Be Loved Carefully, Only Well.

After All, It's The Librarian's Sworn Purpose To Bring Books Together With Their One True Reader.