Mark Penlord was a dull man. He was utterly devoted to his hobby, which quickly became a dark, passionate obsession. He wanted nearly needed books.
Nothing would stop him from having first copies of books. Not even if it was something unforgivable. His morbid devotion to books combined with his unerring nonchalance was a reason for his lack of friends.
The man had a big house that some time ago burst with life. Now the house had an unwelcoming look. The flowers in the garden looked miserable, and the grass and ubiquitous weeds that hadn't been mowed in years only emphasised their appearance. The old facade of the building was darkened from dirt. The inside was a little less uninviting than the outside, but it wasn't a pleasant place. Penlord had an impressive library that occupied a whole attic. Rows of books impeccably set on the shelves were itself, a symbol of Mark's grim determination. His living space was much drearier than the library. A coffee table in the living room covered with different kinds of papers, from grocery lists to taxes, was the sign of Penlord's feverish searching for something. A small paper lied on the floor. The man, despite the pain in his knees, bent to reach to it. He looked at it, and the flash of anguish appeared on his face. It reminded him of the time he tried to cheat destiny.
The small paper was a photo. A young woman was looking from it. Her fragile features contrasted with her sharp, piercing green eyes. The black delicate, silk-like curls framed her face, and her cherry lips were eye-cathing. Next to her stood a tall man with a black homburg on his head. His facial features were strong. Sharp jawline, sharp nose, and blue eyes made man's face very pleasurable to look at. It was Mark Penlord himself. He was a very handsome man in his youth.
At that time, collecting first copies of the books, was just a hobby of his. But after some time, he did something truly cruel and unforgivable. Something that he was disgraced in the eyes of his beloved Bethy. She couldn't accept what he did and left him. That night he has lost everything he cared about - his love, his reputation, his friends.
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