The Bookstore Door

I was walking down the street, just chilling, until I saw a bookstore. To tell the truth, there were two bookstores. One next to the other. As a good writer I love a good bookstore, the smell of books, I love everything. I didn't know which way to go, I was on the sidewalk, in front of two tall wooden doors. But one thing I was sure of, regardless of which door I chose to enter, I would be feeling at home. It's inexplicable how a bookstore messes with my feelings. I looked quickly through the windows and entered the empty one. After all, peace at that moment would be a good choice. As soon as I entered the establishment, I was already looking for the section on detective novels. Inside it was cozy and it brought me many good memories. When I took my eyes off the shelf I noticed a man in the background. At the first moment, I realized we were wearing the same clothes. But as soon as the man turned around, I was startled. It was like looking in the mirror! In addition to being dressed the same, our appearance was very similar. A lot of coincidence for the tranquility of a bookstore. I turned my back and headed for the exit. I didn't want the man to see me, it would be very strange. I left the bookstore and everything happened very quickly after that. In a matter of seconds, a speeding car came to a sudden stop right in front of me. The back door of the car opened and a female voice spoke from inside: Get in the car, please, we need to talk. I hesitated and this time she shouted: Come in, now! I got in the car, sat next to an armed man in a suit. He had a briefcase on his lap. I was very afraid, my hands were shaking and I started to sweat. They were all silent for a while. My nervousness did not leave me silent, I immediately asked what they wanted from me. The woman from the front seat said she didn’t understand my shock, she asked if I was okay, and also said she would agree with our agreement. They would pay half now and the rest later if my service was good. They would send a letter with more information about my mission. I didn't understand anything. I didn't even know what to think at that moment. The car braked again, they handed me the suitcase and told me to get out of the car. There I was, with a briefcase full of money (by the weight I believed I had a lot of money), standing on the sidewalk without knowing where to go. Trying to process everything that had just happened. What did they want with me? I don't remember arranging anything with anyone.

After a while, I concluded that I would take a taxi, go home and wait for that letter. Where I was getting into I didn't know. However, I was a writer facing creative blocks, I needed agitation in my life, after all, nothing happened in a long time. Three days passed and the letter finally arrived. I was in doubt whether or not I wanted this message to arrive. But as soon as I got the message, I started reading it. I was appalled and at the same time, I felt a strange feeling of happiness. The message said that in 4 days I should be ready for my mission: to protect actor James Lancaster on the night of the film festival. There were several rules and duties that I had to comply with, but basically, he was receiving death threats for his political positions. A child's dream seemed to be coming true. Whether it was a coincidence or a destination I didn't know, but I was very excited about the festival. I would finally live in the flesh what the characters in my books go through in my stories. I am very apprehensive about the big night to come, but I felt it was my duty to research a little more about the life of this actor. Who was James Lancaster? After a short time, I reached the following conclusions about the actor: it was the new phenomenon of the film industry. Young and beautiful-looking he seemed to attract crowds and separate opinions on the internet. Some idolized him and others not so much (to the point of threatening him with death). 

This is since he came to live here in California at the age of 4, a refugee from some country in North Africa, probably Morocco. That was never a problem in his life, at least until he became famous. James began to suffer prejudice from people who did not accept an African man being the film star of the country. He had a strong personality. He was unmoved by the prejudice of stupid people and went on, always supporting the fight against inequalities. However, he had been very frightened lately by threats from some groups who didn't want him to win the prize. I was incredulous, as in 2021 we still find people with this type of thinking so outdated. My mission had just gotten more serious.

Anyway, the big night had come. With every hour that passed, I sweated more. At the end of the message, it said that I should be at a certain time in the same place as always. Did that make me thoughtful, what do they mean, in the same place as always? It was simply confusing, but it was decided that I would do my duty, after all, I had nothing better to do. I waited in front of the two bookstore doors. The same car arrived to pick me up and take me to the festival. I asked questions and nobody answered me. We arrived at the scene quickly, parked the car and I started walking towards the great hall where I would meet J. Lancaster. I shouldn't talk to him so as not to raise suspicions, but I should keep an eye out for certain guys who were considered suspects of the threats. The ceremony was going very well. The actors were seated and called to collect their prizes. I kept one eye on the cat and the other on the fish. At the same time that the festival entertained me, I needed to keep my focus on James and the suspects. I spent like two hours like that, I look here and there. Until when I looked at where James was sitting, I didn't find him. I felt my pressure drop instantly. What the hell, he's gone? Where could he have gone? I left the main hall running towards the corridors and the exit. When I arrived in the corridor and decided which way I was going to look for him first. I felt a pain in my head and saw the lights go out. They probably hit me with something. When I opened my eyes again, I was tied up in a dark room. I could feel the presence of another person near me. I was dizzy but soon regained my senses and remembered the mission. I started screaming for help and a man suddenly turned on the lights, pulled out a chair, and sat across from me. I realized that I knew that man, I had seen him somewhere. It didn't take long and I remembered, he was the man at the bookstore, my "mirror". 

Why was he there? What did he want from me? I started asking questions and he took a piece of cloth and put it in my mouth saying: now only I speak, you already stole my job. I tried to scream but no sound came out. "What do you mean I stole your job?" I thought. I was very agitated, and "my mirror" on the contrary aspired for tranquility. He started talking again: you stole my job, my dignity, and my money. Now we need to resolve this situation. I realized that if I didn't take action, things would be difficult for me. When he turned his back on me, I didn't think twice. I thought what I would do, joined forces, and jumped with the chair towards the door. I broke the door and luckily a waiter was passing by. They started fighting, other waiters arrived and "my mirror" ran away. They helped me to get rid of the ropes that held me and as soon as I could I ran back towards the main hall. I really needed to find the man I swore to protect. I arrived in tatters in the hall, everyone looked at me strangely but there he was, as if nothing had happened, receiving the award for best actor. Finally, I was calm and managed to think more clearly. Everything had happened so fast, but this time (for now) everything had worked out. Lancaster was safe. I didn't know what the future was keeping for me. Would the "mirror" come after me? Would I need to protect myself from him for the rest of my life? And all of this happened because I decided to enter a bookstore. What would have happened if I had chosen to enter the other one?

"Small uncertain choices await us with uncertain futures".

I don't speak English as a native language, I'm Brazilian. Forgive me for some mistakes that I may have made. ❤