a little less (fiction three)

She has a tiny notebook, just a few inches square, that she has with her at all times. It was purchased to have a place for writing phone numbers and other bits of information that need keeping. Instead she has started writing down the things she reads that are beautiful or inspiring. It's better than saying, "I read this thing that was so wonderful. I'll look it up and email it to you sometime." But really, who would she say that to? Either way, these are the real things that need keeping.

Next will be thoughts, fragments, bits of ideas that won't ever grow up into real things but should still be kept in some way.

"We are beautiful the way rust is beautiful, the way crumbling bricks and abandoned buildings are beautiful. We exist because somewhere, someone did something and even if that moment of care has passed, we were spun into being because of it and it will remain an essential piece even when it seems like so much decay and destruction."

She will find this too true to let go but too pretentious to keep.