I return a book after a long time

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I received a nice note yesterday from a friend from our previous hometown. We were both in the writing group there and she used to write the most quirky children’s poetry. She thanked me for returning a book to her. The book, The Beekeeper of Aleppo, had been on our bookshelves for months. Vince had read it and recommended it to me. I had put off reading it as it is about the flight of a Syrian couple who had lost their son during the war. Eventually, I did read it and discovered her name and address on the sticker on the cover. She had taken it to writing group once to lend out. I had no recollection of having taken it home and was mortified to think I’d had it at least twelve months. So I posted it back with a letter of apology and received a nice note back. I rarely lend my favourite books because it’s all too easy for them not to come home. Often, I can’t remember who I lent them to and then they are lost forever. The photo is Vince’s. He likes taking photos of bees.