Old Books

I work with old books
But not just books

Sometimes
While I'm working
I find little mementos in the books
Like a note someone's written
Or a piece of something they must have
Thrown away with the book

Yesterday
It was a missionary name badge
For the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
A couple days ago,
It was a $20 bill
Stuck in between the sleeve and the inside front cover
Apparently a few days ago
A coworker found $1400 in an envelope inside a book

I always wonder
How people feel
When they realize these things are gone
Thrown out with a book they probably thought useless
And now being considered by some angsty young adult
Standing in a facility
Scanning books

I work with old books
But not just books

I work with memories