The library was your solace. The peace and tranquillity the building held always put a smile on your face, and it certainly helped that your best friend worked there. Belle had been your best friend in the Enchanted Forest, so once the curse was broken, you were brought back together being the best of friends once more. You made your way into the library, a pile of books under your arm to return, ready to swap them out for another pile. Although the library was filled with worlds of wonders, hardly anyone ever used it, mainly just you and Belle, reading your way through the endless shelves.

Normally you would enter the building without knowing where Belle was, usually finding her lost amongst the shelves, too deep in reading before she knew that you had even been there. This wasn't like it was normally. Belle was stood behind the front desk, lazily stamping books, her head leaning on one of her hands, pained and bored.

"You okay?" You asked, dropping the books onto the counter with a loud thud.

The sudden loud noise seemed to snap Belle out of her monotonous daze. She shot you a weak and fake smile, attempting to let you think that she was okay, when she clearly wasn't.

You cocked an eyebrow at her, to try and get her to answer sincerely.

"I'm fine," she stated.

"Belle, don't lie to me, it's clear that something is wrong."

She let out a sigh, closing the book she had just stamped, leaning towards you.

"It's Rumple," she said.

"What'd he do now?"

Mr Gold wasn't a pleasant person, you didn't know what Belle saw in him, but you were there to support her when he hurt her. It happened often, he would build up her trust and wreck it all again. She wanted to see the best in people, but some people had lost all the good they had in them.

"He lied about his dagger," she whispered, doing her best to keep it together.

"I thought you had it?"

She solemnly lowered her head, shaking it.

"That's what he lied about. He gave me a fake. He will always love himself more than me."

"You deserve someone better than him," you said softly, reaching out to take her hand.

"I love him Y/N," she sighed. "I just don't know how much longer I can cope with this."

"It's going to be okay," you assured, certainly not sure about that.

~*~
Written by Charlotte.

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