…but I just pulled a book off of my shelf, a copy of the complete works of Emily Dickenson that I had bought for a dollar at a used book sale at UMD before I had graduated. I open to the title page and find the following note:
I wish we could recite them all, together.
Love always
Emmy
-1983
I got love always for the low low price of a buck! Call me crazy, I have to think the relationship failed to reach always.
I shouldn’t have laughed. I know I shouldn’t have.
But I did.
Aww, that’s so sad. 
sniff
Sorry, slight cynicism failure there. Well, it is almost Christmas.
[Nelson]
Ha-haaa!
[/Nelson]
That’s better.
You sure it doesn’t say EMILY ? 
Hm, in retrospect… in that book I gave my ex, I should have written the inscription:
*Give me back my damn CDs you cheating skank!
Belligerently,
Crayons
At least it would test the relationship right away, rather than waiting until that phrase would be justified.
I think so. Just jump to the end, y’know?
Maybe the poor girl got cancer and had to go through expensive medical treatments that the guy generously paid for. Maybe she died anyway leaving her desolated lover with a huge amount of debt and he ended up completely impoverished. With a heavy heart, he sold the book, the one last reminder of his one true love, to a used bookstore so he’d have enough money to buy some ramen and a cup of coffee.
Or maybe he just caught her sleeping with his best friend behind his back. Either one.
That made me laugh, too.
Then I thought of some past book inscriptions which I wish I could change to read “die, evil harpy”. Then I felt sad. I hope somewhere someone is reading them in a used bookstore and getting a good laugh.
This was purchased from a group of History grad students at the University of Maryland. So I don’t think the statement really holds up…
Well, except for the ramen and coffee thing. That’s grad gourmet.
tries not to laugh. Honest
Hey! Make up your mind!
But, you see, that cheered me up. 
Oh. Sorry. Forgot to check the time stamps…
I win! And I didn’t even know I was supposed to be trying. You’re welcome 
big kiss Thank you!