Under the Copper Lampshade
The air in the room carried the scent of old wood and faintly burnt coffee. The window was left slightly open, letting in the cool evening air along with the distant rumble of a tram. A single lamp with a copper shade glowed on the table, casting warm patches of light across the walls and the faded rug on the floor. The young woman stood by the bookshelf, her fingers gliding along the spines. She wore a thin white blouse that clung slightly beneath her arms and a dark skirt reaching her knees. Her hair was loosely tied up, with a few strands escaping and resting against the back of her neck. The man sat in the armchair opposite her. His gray hair was cut short, catching the light at his temples. His shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, the sleeves rolled up. He watched her without speaking, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest. "Take whichever one you like," he said quietly. His voice was deep, touched with a faint rasp. She pulled out a slim book with a dark cover ...