Putting her pen down, Una scratched her head. Having a mental breakdown earlier, she decided to take a different approach by looking over the library's clipboard to recount how many attendees there were in the building.

They included the local citizens of Aspen Hollow who'd rather be reading the current newspaper or magazine on a February morning. She believed they chose to keep her company rather than roam shops in the downtown area. That made her feel better as it was quite lonely staying at home. Her husband hardly came home after he dropped their daughter off at Aspen High. And that troubled her. But constantly arguing with Daryl did not change anything. Thus, she decided to do something about it as she applied to become a part-time librarian. To get away from his wretched self-pity, Una accepted the job once her boss called to say she was selected to be a potential candidate.

However, Una would learn the downside of it all, as she was often called "Granny" by everyone around her as her wrinkled face. A remark that made Una feel ancient and uneasy, since she didn't consider herself to be that old as of yet. Una didn't even have grandchildren to start with! However, she learned to accept the moniker given to her, as she explained to everyone that despite the fact that she was thankful for the endearing nickname, she preferred to be called Mrs. Henson,

Feeling insecure about herself wasn't what she expected to endure as a librarian. But Una knew that she was getting older by the minute. Her doctors prescribed her medications to improve her mind, as she complained to them that she was forgetting people's names. The taste of the daily pills wasn't to her liking, and eventually, she gave up taking them. Thus, she started calling everyone "dear." Una may have been fifty, but she still didn't feel wise. In fact, she wished she'd learned more in her life.

- - - -

The usual crowd hung out in the library every day. In fact, the elderly man who sat across from her, Mr. Henderson often greeted her whenever he came in. A funny character that would brighten her day, he wore a bow tie over his shirt that matched the graying wisps of his white hair. Una could tell his hair line was receding; she knew male pattern baldness occurs as men age. In fact, Una's husband was already bald once he turned forty and that didn't bother her at all. She just hoped Daryl knew she still loved him no matter what he did.

Mr. Henderson wore thick glasses which kept sliding down his nose and regularly selected the Sunday Times when he came in. Quietly he'd hum to himself when an article interested him--a habit Una often snickered at - and his wife would often mumble trifling words of endearment in his ear. And that seemed to please him.

Remembering how she used the same approach to calm her husband down, made her smile. The memories of their young love came back to haunt her as she twirled her fingers around the air. No matter how angry she was with Daryl at the moment, thoughts of him would linger in Una's mind.

- - - -

She met Daryl when they were college students. At that time, Una had long beautiful chestnut hair that she would put in a ponytail. It attracted a dark-haired gentleman on the dance floor during a fraternity party. And after one dance, their relationship took off. Spending multiple times together, Una and Daryl quickly fell in love. And once they got married, their daughter Ursula was born after having multiple miscarriages. Ursula was her miracle child.  

Una wanted to pursue her dreams to attend law school but put that all behind her as she opted to be a homemaker instead.

She missed that lovely feeling where her husband used to touch her soft skin delicately in the morning as they woke up together. He'd kiss her on the cheek before going to work. But all that changed once Daryl was laid off from his IT job.

Now an old grouch, Daryl was hardly attractive. Although his eyes were bright and engaged, his wrinkled face gave away his true age. In time, his demeanor changed, and the love they once had deteriorated. His face remained dull and impassive whenever she spoke to him. Daryl's sluggish speech made her think that he must not care about what was going on around him anymore.

Pretending that she lived a perfect life was a joke.

Not noticing that she laughed out loud, Una put her hands over her mouth once the patrons faced her. Embarrassed to have been caught, she blushed and turned around.

- - - -

Una sighed and relaxed back in her chair, sinking into her constant habit of daydreaming. She rubbed absently at her jaw. No matter how fit she strove to be, discomfort crept closer each day. Along with the other aches and pains that came with getting older, her teeth had been hurting lately. It had been far too long since her last dental checkup. Her dentist would probably scold her for allowing a cavity to develop. She shouldn't keep putting off making an appointment, but she did not like going under the drill.

- - - -

Returning back to reality, Una leaned back to retrieve a few papers and stacked them together in a folder, while eyeing those talking quietly in the back. She needed to look busy, before her boss, Florence, would hunt her down.

A racket, a few doors down, could be heard and as she reminded the perpetrators to quiet down, it continued.  Una shook her head, causing her gray curls to flutter across her forehead. Wondering on what else to do, Una put the folder away and reached for the clipboard that lay on the counter. She was about to stand up from her seat to view the occupants of Study Haven, when a student rushed out of the room to voice out that she was sorry for the noise. The student must have seen Una's scowl and wanted to save her friends from being penalized. Thus, Una sank back in her seat and sighed. 

Young scholars, preparing for exams or researching for school projects were only allowed to study in the Study Haven. Patrons had to submit a request by signing a sheet in advance in order to book the room ahead of time, so the library could keep track of its attendees. She disagreed with those library rules, as she believed anyone who wanted to read in a meeting room should be able to do so. But rules were rules, and she had to abide them. 

However, at times, a few students would slip into the room without permission. Thus, the next bookie would complain about it and report them to the main office. It would lead to adding a mark for the unruly students' library card. 

Putting her hands on top of her face she hoped those students who made a ruckus learned their lesson. As she swayed her legs, she felt a cloth buried underneath her desk.

What is this? She voiced aloud.

Una bent down to retrieve it and placed the cloth on a nearby rack. Not paying much attention to it, the glitter-stained cloth was left there by the children's activity director. Earlier in the day, the children had been doing a lesson entitled "The Magic in Art." Evidence of said magic, in the sparkly, impossible-to-clean form of silver glitter, could now be found from one end of the library to the other.

Brushing away a few dazzling specks, she browsed the list of names on the clipboard she was reading earlier. That's when the name Erica Cresswell caught her eye. Erica was an avid visitor, and Una hoped the young girl's mother knew where she was since Erica was often seen without a parent at her side. Erica was old enough to travel alone with her friends, but as a concerned mother, Una preferred meeting Mrs. Cresswell as well.

- - - -

Una trailed her pen above the lines she composed earlier. It was a text about an artificial intelligence project.

But it wasn't just any AI.

It was her AI, Adelaide. She selected the name as it meant noble- natured - hoping that her creation would bring her good fortune. Not paying attention that the name was highly regarded by upper-class citizens, the librarian decided to go with her plan.

On the sidelines, Una worked on a website--or a Wanna-Be website that seemed to be taking forever to launch--called Boops, where she created this AI named Adelaide. The bosses at Boops marveled over Adelaide comparing her to the love god, Cupid. And Una was proud of that accomplishment.

Adelaide possessed the ability to speak. Though the tones were borrowed from a low-cost voice actor, Adelaide could turn those simple vowels and consonant sounds into wonderful conversation that would engage the pickiest of love-seekers.

However, she was not complete. Adelaide needed a touch up - a face for instance to make her look more human-like. And a backstory was what the creators of Boops wanted, and this story of hers was supposed to explain how Adelaide came to be.

Adelaide, the AI, was a great success, but the book would be the real dream as Una always wanted to be a well-known published author. Either way, until one of her ideas was launched into the world and drew her decent income to support her family, Una was stuck being a librarian in order to make ends meet.

Looking at her work, she felt satisfied. Adelaide would be a living legacy!

----

A needle was accidentally left on the floor by a passerby and as Una stood up, she walked over it. Wearing sandals, Una didn't think that would be a major problem. But the needle went right through the shoe causing one of her toes to bleed profusely. Now weeping, Una touched her forehead and started feeling dizzy. Seeing blood oozing on the floor wasn't a daily routine for her. She pounded on the desk as hard as she could to draw attention. Trying to shout for help, she flailed her arms towards those watching her every movement.

In her mind she thought about her family. 

Daryl would regret what he did to me after all these years as he gambled our money away. And poor Ursula is off on her own, with only a penny left to her name.

Suddenly, an invisible band wrapped around Una, stealing her breath. She fell flat on the desk. As the seconds on the clock ticked, patrons rushed about screaming for help.

Didn't they know quiet is the rule in the library?

The tightness in her chest grew. Una gulped for fresh air, trying to breathe in deeply. Anxiety flooded her body as she grew light-headed. But now she realized her time on Earth had come to an end.

No! No! This can't be! My project isn't even complete!

Trying to keep her eyes open, Una saw a dim light around the corner, where a dark figure floated. Wearing a black hood that covered its face, Una knew it was the grim reaper waiting to whisk her away. Closing her eyes for the last time, Una's heart stopped beating and her lifeless body fell to the floor. 

Bystanders raced to help her and rushed to call the ambulance for help.

When all the commotion and pandemonium was gone, the book that Una left sat on the table. The creation of Adelaine was the lifeline Una left for the world to see.