“Of course,” she said, curiosity piqued as he walked away. She turned back to the book. It was a discourse on sailing ships throughout the ages. She snapped it closed and put it back in its place on the shelf, any potential interest thoroughly ruined by the book’s topic. She had been on a boat once. Never again. Still, as she sat there in the midst of row upon row of books illuminated by the autumnal morning light, she considered her own words.