The girl had dark, heavy hair styled in a bun from each several locks had fallen. From time to time, her deer-like eyes studied the young man in front of her. Then, they hid behind the book she was reading. What she didn't know was that he had noticed her first. And that he especially chose the place in front of her at the library table.

"How come in the digital era, girls still read books? Real books," he whispered to her.

The people nearby turned their faces to him, casting menacing glances. The girl tried to look just as bothered, but he could notice the smile in the corner of her mouth. Her eyes were smiling, too.

"Have we met?" she whispered back.

"No, I'm sorry... I won't bother you again," he replied, turning to his book. And he began browsing the pages of an old book which was almost detached from its leather covers.

The girl turned to her book, too. But only for a few seconds. "You're not bothering," she said, smiling. "What are you reading?"

The boy moved to the free place near her. He couldn't believe he was so... natural in the presence of such a pretty girl. Beautiful girls usually intimidated him, making him uncomfortable. He wasn't the pickup type, not to mention in a library. He wasn't even the type to catch a girl's attention. Tall, thin, with the hair the colour of the sand. Girls would usually pass by without even noticing him.

But now, something deep inside was pushing him to talk to her. To know her. To hear her voice and laughter.

"I'm researching an old book. It was written more than a century ago," he eventually said.

"How is it called?"

"I don't think you know it... It's pretty obscure. It's called Beneath Ivory Skies. They say the author finished writing it—" 

"—after he died," she completed his words. "Through automatic writing. I've heard of it. It made a lot of fuss when it was published, at that time; especially by the practitioners of the spiritualism. But how come, in the digital era, you're interested in such an occult book?"

"I don't know... I just feel that I should finish the story. Because I feel... it has to have a happy ending."

"You're a writer?" the girl asked with a sparkle in her eyes.

"Only in my free time. In between two jobs that are very... suitable for the muse of creation. Fast food seller and a city guide."

The girl giggled, and that caused other irritated glances towards them.

A few minutes went by, and each tried in vain to concentrate on their books. After a while, the vibration of the mobile phone made the girl throb.

 She suddenly got up, "I have to go, I'm late for a class. It was nice meeting you," she said, stretching out her white hand toward him.

The boy held it a second too long. The girl retreated her hand gently, red roses appearing in her cheeks. Then, she slid between the reading tables towards the exit of the library as a feather caught in a whirlwind. The echoes of her footsteps were slowly fading away like an old memory growing even older. He could see her fragile silhouette going out the door, a cloud of thin, glowing dust emerging behind her.

Then, something inside him flinched. He gave up the old book and got out of the library, almost running. It was time to write a different story. His own story. In the hubbub on the street, it would have been impossible to find her. But the fine dust that accompanied her led him to her as if he was following a fairy into fairyland. He reached behind her and slowly touched her shoulder.

The girl turned just as slow, as if she knew he's been following. She was smiling.

"I'm sorry," he said, scratching his forehead. He was always scratching his forehead when he was nervous. "I haven't introduced myself, and that's just rude. I'm Tom."

Their hands touched again, this time without letting go.

"Belle," she replied. "Annabelle, actually..."

The name couldn't have been more appropriate, he thought.

"Would you mind joining me for a cup of tea, Belle?" he asked. "That is if you like tea..."

"I love tea, " she said, the sun smiling in her hair. "The class was boring, anyway..."

And they both set off, hand in hand, to unknown worlds that were opening their doors only for them.

Above, the ivory skies were stretching out, fragile and light, just as they once did...

THE END 

Well, what do you think? I wanted this story to have a happy ending, even if the main characters obviously missed their chances for happiness. I wanted to show that sometimes, second chances are too late, and you have to live the moment. Here and now.

 I hope you liked this story. Thank you so much for reading!