The Same Book, the Same Shelf

Under the awning, the rain fell like a knowing silence. I took the red-covered novel out of my bag while you met my eyes, a shared smile blossoming. Our matching outfits — beige trench, black turtleneck, blue jeans, and ankle boots — seemed obvious. We shared our reading secrets, a fragile whisper amid the sound of falling water. Softly, you remembered: “I wonder if all the best novels have red covers…”