The Borders two blocks from me is closing its doors. I’m in mourning, for now my options for places of commercial retreat are Barnes & Noble (far away and not so homey) or Starbucks (which doesn’t even have books). Booksamillion isn’t even on the table. I went to my Borders today for perhaps the last time. The shelves were almost entirely empty, the furniture in complete disarray. They’re selling it all, of course. Chairs and tables, library ladders, even the cabinetry in the café. It was too painful to stay very long. I picked up half a dozen books and spent all of the money I had (which wasn’t much). As I was leaving I looked over my shoulder once more at the buzzards rummaging through in the remains of my once-beloved bookstore. Outside the day was sunny and too bright. Birds were chirping, traffic zipped by, the world was not ending. It carried on completely unsympathetic to my suffering.

(Source: wryan)