Enchanted

   Paris, 1839

   The wooden door creaked as Josephine Barry stepped into the bookshop. Same as every week. Her red velvet trouser legs swished against the carpeted floor.

"Good evening!" Said the owner behind the counter.

"Evening, Jaq." She waved politely.

   "Papa, look!" A little girl with curly hair ran out from the back excitedly. "I've got 2 new dolls, and they're getting married!"

   "Don't be silly, they're both girls." The man chuckled and shook his head.

   "Girls can't get married?" The child frowned.

   "No, of course not - The very idea is ridiculous! This one, eh?" He turned to Josephine.

She faked a smile and nodded. She wanted to say something to the little girl, but held back any encouraging words for safety. He seemed merely ignorant, but ignorance could be dangerous. Gritting her teeth, she swiftly walked several bookshelves away. Snatching a leather-bound one off the shelf, she plonked down on a bench and started rage-reading. When Josephine Barry was reminded of the harsh realities of the world, she devoured books. After a while, she relaxed and became lost in the story.

Gradually, she noticed a strong scent of violets nearby. She looked up into sparkling brown eyes, to her surprise. Another woman was sitting opposite her on the bench, but she had turned around and was reading over her shoulder. Her rich brown hair looked soft. Their faces were very close, and Josephine blushed.

   'Have we met?' Those eyes seemed to whisper.

   "Hello." Josephine scooted back and said cautiously.

   "Hello." The woman smiled, genuinely. She had violets pinned to the front of her flowing white dress. "I just thought I'd advise you against buying that book. It's terribly bleak, and in the end the protagonist is murdered!" She raised her dark eyebrows dramatically at those last words.

   "Excuse me?" Josephine's jaw dropped. Who was this rude, though admittedly beautiful, stranger? And how dare she spoil this gripping novel she was right in the middle of? Absolutely no decorum!

   "I said, the protagonist is mur-" The stranger repeated with emphasis.

   "Yes, I heard you." She rolled her eyes playfully. It was hard to be angry at those eyes for long, when they were so earnest. "But I happened to be enjoying this book, and you just completely spoiled the ending!"

   "Ohh, sorry!" She clasped her hand over her mouth. "I'm always doing that, it's a habit I can't break." She shrugged her shoulders. "I'd still say I did you a favour. The plot-line makes absolutely no sense."

   "Perhaps that's the fault of the reader, and not the author." Josephine countered her quick remark with a small smile.

The colourful rows of books seemed to shelter them from the outside world, and she felt as if they were two school girls, passing notes in secrecy.

   "Fair play." She stuck out her hand. "I'm Gertrude."

   "Josephine." She shook it, slightly wonderstruck. When their hands touched, the simple act felt magical. They held on for a while longer than people who had only known each other a few minutes often did. Perhaps they weren't exactly like most other people. All Josephine could do was hope this Gertrude was... like her.

   "Enchanted to meet you." Said Gertrude eloquently.

   "You have a very unique way of expressing yourself." Said Josephine, smoothing down the pages of her book to hide the fact that she was flustered.

   "Thank you." She beamed. "You know, you look more like a Jo to me."

   She thought about it for a moment.

   "Very well. Then I shall call you Gertie."

    It felt too soon when they had to leave, though they had talked for hours. They walked together until their paths diverted, promising to meet the next day. Jo went home in a daze, blushing all the way as she replayed their conversations in her head. The stars in the night sky were sparkling like Gertie's eyes, and she didn't want to let their stolen moments go. The street lights were glowing and her heart felt warm.

After she fed the cat, Jo spun around her room and collapsed on the bed. She sighed wistfully, wondering if Gertie knew she had been enchanted to meet her, too.

   That night she could hardly sleep, with these lingering questions echoing through her mind. Did Gertrude also like women? Did she like her in particular? How often would they see each other?

Perhaps it was pointless to pine away when she had only just met the woman. Gertrude had said she lived alone, but what if she was betrothed to a man who was in another country - because he was studying medicine, or something like that? Maybe she already had a secret female lover, and they were planning to run away together to live in a secluded cottage in the woods? No matter how many impossible scenarios she came up with, she couldn't stop herself from wishing they could have some kind of future together. They'd break all the rules, because it would be worth it.

   Josephine didn't even realise she was pacing across the floor until she bumped into a chair.

   Presently, she glanced at the clock and saw it was 2am.

   'RAP, RAP!' A sharp knock on the door made her jump.

   Cautiously, she opened it, to reveal the very woman she was thinking about, standing outside.

   "Please don't be in love with someone else." Was all that Gertrude said. The exact hope that Josephine was clinging on to, mirrored on her lips.

   "I..." Then she woke up.

   Dreams could be so cruel, giving you exactly what you wanted and then snatching it away. While Gertrude's sudden appearance at her door had been a dream, their shared connection was real. That night was the very first page, and Gertie and Jo's storyline wouldn't end yet.