The Sweetness of Candy and Orange

"The one thing I will not tolerate is a lack of passion."

The voice that echoed through the store was so loud it caused a rush of air to move the candy wrappers on the shelves. Two rows down, Elza looked up from her book and felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. It's not like she didn't want to read that book; she just couldn't help but hear Daniel's grandfather's booming voice. She knew she should have gone somewhere else, somewhere more quiet. But everything around here was loud. The grandfather stood opposite Daniel behind the counter, his hands in front of him as if he was about to do some kind of dance. His body language alone made it obvious that he was angry.

"We're a family business, Daniel! And we're losing money!"

*shiver*

As if they were connected, Elza shivered violently and tried desperately to ignore the cold breeze that suddenly entered the room. She had no idea why someone would open all the windows during summer, but at this point she was welcoming any distraction she could get from her thoughts. In her right hand, she wrapped her fingers around the green ribbon that hung loosely around her neck and felt a sudden wave of warmth wash over her body. Her eyes dilated as she held the ribbon closer to her face and inhaled deeply, trying to smell something recognizable amidst the dirty clothes and discarded candy wrappers littering the floor. It was hopeless though. Everything smelled like smoke and old cheese - like every public place in this country.

"And I don't need you telling me that I don't know what I'm talking about either!" Mr Bell shouted as he continued walking towards Daniel, "I've been running this store longer than you've been alive!" He held out his arm and pointed at Daniel menacingly. "You're just a kid! You have no idea how hard it is to run a business!" Mr Bell took his hand away from Daniel's face slowly, as if he didn't want to touch him anymore than necessary. He turned around slowly, taking smaller steps back toward the door until his back pressed against it heavily as he let out an exasperated sigh before disappearing into thin air. Minutes later, Elza heard the door slam shut behind him and felt another rush of cold air whisk by her side, causing a nearby stack of papers sitting on top of an empty shelve to rustle softly into the silence that had returned to fill this place once again.

*sigh*

Elza closed her eyes for a moment and took another breath through her nose before exhaling loudly through parted lips with a faint smile on her face before returning to her book quietly; grateful for whatever break she got from reality for however long it lasted for this time around. She knew she didn't belong here - especially after hearing their conversation earlier - but reading these words in English felt so good at times like these. Even if these books weren't hers, even if they belonged to someone who obviously didn't care enough about them be bothered by anyone touching them or moving them from where they left them scattered all over this place, they were still hers somehow now: They were here because of her; they were hers because they were written by people who cared enough about what they said and how they said it that they wanted other people to be able to see their words as well without having to speak English or understand it themselves - without having to understand anything other than how beautiful those words were; how beautiful those stories were. How important those stories were, even if they sometimes did feel uncomfortable reading them aloud without thinking twice first while everyone else around here seemed so disinterested in everything except making sure nobody could steal their crappy goods away from them or catch the attention of any passing buyers who might show up with some extra gold coins jangling in their pockets looking for something interesting to buy from these guys who called themselves shopkeepers when really all they did was sell crap nobody wanted anymore...

*cough*

A sudden cough startled Elza out of her thoughts as she looked up from her book to find Daniel smiling timidly at her; face flushed bright red from embarrassment as he tried not look directly at Elza while wiping his sweaty palms on his pants before speaking: "Uhm...we don't usually get many customers during summer." he said before clearing his throat awkwardly, "but since we haven't seen you in awhile..." he paused for a moment before continuing: "I-I figured I'd introduce myself properly..." he flashed another nervous smile while holding out his hand toward Elza expectantly.

*sigh*

With a small smile on her face Elza placed her book down gently onto its side where it rested on top of an empty shelf before standing up slowly while fumbling with her ribbon absentmindedly while looking down shyly at Daniel's extended hand nervously: "Hello." she whispered softly while placing her right hand into his left one gently with watery eyes before pulling herself forward quickly into an embrace with Daniel as soon as their bodies touched: "My name is Elza."

As soon as she felt him wrap both arms around her waist tightly in return, Elza closed her eyes tightly and inhaled deeply through parted lips before raising one hand into the air above them with palm facing upward while extending outwards: "I can tell you my favorite color too!" she said proudly while feeling herself relax into Daniel's warm chest before speaking softly once again: "It's green." A faint chill began running up and down both their spines simultaneously but neither one of them moved away from each other until finally Elza opened one eye tentatively only to see herself staring directly at something familiar hanging high above their heads above Daniel's shoulder - something familiar whose green hue had been stained brown after years of neglect...