The Geographer's Library

The Geographer’ s Library
“I don’t . . . What’s the matter, Hannah? Do you want to sit down? I have
some wine and food if you’re hungry. What’s wrong?”
“How do we know when we’ve done well and when we’ve just intended
well?” She clenched her fists and her jaw, dropped her head into her hands.
When she looked up again, she was her old self, and she suggested that we go
back to my place so I could cook her dinner.
“Sure,” I agreed. “But are you sure you’re feeling all right?”
“I’m fine. Really. I think I’m just hungry. And talking to Tonu made me
realize that Jaan really is gone, and that I miss him.”
“Is that all? Hannah, I’m worried about you. This morning I found—”
She leaned forward and kissed me, running a hand down my cheek and
around my neck. “You have nothing to worry about,” she said, holding my
face in her hands and looking straight into my eyes. “Remember that: you
don’t ever have to worry about me.” She nodded my head for me, then let go
and locked an arm in mine. “Should we go? I’ve never seen your place, and
I’m hungry. I didn’t know you could cook.”
“I’m not sure I can. The ingredients are mine, their ends none of my
own.”
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