The public library (11/21, 1:16 pm)

[Hollis Brown]

The public library (11/21, 1:16 pm)

Ellie Swan is pushing a cart of books through the section of the library dedicated to books on philosophy. She is wearing a green blouse and cropped khaki pants. As usual, she is also wearing her silver ring and her necklace with the bronze locket. She is clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth as she slips a copy of Michael Sandel's Justice in new spot on the shelf.

Behind the counter, the librarian is struggling to open a can of green beans with a hand-operated can opener.

Brandy Smith is sitting at a table directly across from the library entrance. She is looking out the window to her right. An open notebook sits in front of her. Brandie taps the blank page its turned to with the no. 2 pencil in her hand. Brandie is wearing a dark purple hooded sweatshirt and dark gray sweatpants. Her shoes are brown.

At the corner of the room, a few tables behind Brandy, Samson Ackermann is speaking quietly with Nora Green. They stifle quiet laughter from time to time, and after they laugh, one of them (if not both) quickly glances around the area before resuming conversation.

[Hollis Brown]

Ellie Swan eventually has to help the librarian figure out how to work her hand-operated can opener. The two have to keep themselves from laughing while they work through the ordeal together. They both realize the potential irony of the library staff being too noisy in the library.

Brandy Smith sits alone at the table across from the entrance. She remains in the library for about an hour more, writing sporadically in her notebook. She looks out the window. She wears her grief on her face, and the pain is strikingly clear. No one sees her, however.

Nora Green and Samson Ackermann leave the library together discretely.

THE LIBRARY IS NOW CLOSED