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Elsa at the bookshop I love books. Please, lock me inside a bookshop. Elsa was at the shopping centre. There were a lot of people excited for the January sales. Several women were carrying bags. Clothes, jewels,shoes... All was discounted. But Elsa wasn't interested in all these things. She wanted to go into the bookshop.Elsa had always loved to read because while she was reading all the problems and chicken-and-egg situations seemed irrelevant. The bookshop was really overcrowded and Elsa could hear classical music in the background. An old man, sitting in an armchair, was reading an historical novel as Elsa started to prowl among the shelves, reading titles and turning pages of different books. She picked up a book and smelt it: it smelt good so she decided to keep it. Elsa considered herself a sort of "book-sniffer". Sometimes she chose a book just for its scent. She went on wandering in the bookshop even if she had already decided to buy the book she had . She read the title again and again: "The Lord Of The Rings" by J.R.R Tolkien. Yes, it was surely a good book. Before leaving the bookshop she looked at the fantasy section and smiled. I love books. Please, lock me inside a bookshop.

Elsa's thoughts Mobiles. Mobiles everywhere. What's going on with all these people? Elsa was at the bus station. She had to go to the University. It was 8 a.m and her lesson started at 9.30. She had plenty of time so she started to look around, observing all those people waiting a bus with a mobile in their hands. They seemed completely absorbed in their devices. You may think that she was a sort of anti-technology. Am I right? No, she just wanted not to lose touch with reality. She preferred a good book, a nice conversation in front of a cup of tea, instead of reading a Facebook statement or a long series of text messages. Obviously Elsa had a mobile, too. But she never abused of it. She used it only if necessary. For example, to call her mom and tell her that she was going to be late or to keep in touch with her friends and Paul. Probably she was exaggerating. Still, she was the only one who saw the bus arriving.

Elsa's dreaming up a romantic story. He let me down. Again. I was sure he was "the right one", but I was wrong. Elsa couldn't fall asleep. She was staring at the ceiling, making a recap of the day. This was probably her fault: thinking too much. Even when she dated guys. She has always tought that relationships should be founded not just on feelings, but also on rationality. But this time things were different: she was really interested in Paul. She wanted to know him better...but she never got the chance. When they first met he seemed a really good guy: funny ( but not ridiculous), smart, with a good head on his shoulders. He immediately attracted her attention. She must have given a good impression too, because he asked her out again. Elsa couldn't believe it! An interesting guy who wanted to see her again! Maybe this was the right one. That's what she tought. But soon she realized that there was just one, tiny problem: this wasn't reciprocal. He said that he needed some time to figure out what he really felt for her. For Elsa this wasn't such a big deal: she had said the same several times in the past. But, nontheless, she was a bit deceived. Just a little bit. She gave him all the time he needed. She continued to go out with Paul for six months, without making any pressure. She always tried to hide her feelings, in order not to make him feel uncomfortable. But now, after seven months, he said it again. "I need time to understand what I feel". How was that possibile? Seven months and he still doubted about his feelings! That's what Elsa was thinking while she was lying in her bed. He let me down. Again.