A photograph in a library book 
That someone used as a bookmark
A picture of two little girls 
Forgotten between pages 72 and 73

Maybe they're sisters
Maybe best friends 
Maybe they're not little anymore 
Maybe they're no longer friends 

Distracted by the story behind the picture 
That single moment of joy 
Captured in bright kodak colors
Interested me more than the story

Was it taken to be developed 
Then used to hold a place in a book? 
Maybe they never finished reading
Or perhaps they just forgot.

The little girls are at the beach 
Holding hands, running into the waves
Oblivious to problems in the world
I wonder if they are as happy as they look. 

I decide to tuck it back in the book
Keeping it feels like stealing 
That memory was not mine to have 
So I return the book, picture inside

Maybe they'll come looking for their picture 
Or someone else will find it
And think up their own story
Maybe it will end up discarded

The novel long forgotten,
I remember the photo instead  
The picture's story overshadowing
That of some far off fantasy land.