The Library

ChloeCGS

Walking down the sidewalk towards a small old house, I could see my breath in the air in front of me. In fact, the house wasn't a house at all. It was an old library. I shivered in the cold breeze as I slipped through the doorway into the dark room. The smell of old, dusty, dank bookshelves filled my senses and I took a deep breath in of the familiar smell. A smile of familiarity crept it's way onto my face.

"Back again, Chloe?" The homely librarian lady asked me.

"Yup! I finished the book you recommended to me yesterday. I couldn't stop reading! I finished it in only a day." I told the old woman as I handed her the small astronomy book she had shown me the day before.

This is Ms. Cheryl. She's the librarian of this small library. I've known her since I was only 6 years old. Ever since my first visit in the second grade, I've visited as much as I could since then. I used this time to escape everything. Seventh grade wasn't all it was said to be.

"Is there anything in particular you are looking for today?" She asked me.

"Nope. I just came to relax and read. You know; the usual." I grinned.

"Tell me if you need anything, alright, Sweetie?"

I nod my head as I make my way to the back left corner of the library. The shelves reached the ceilings 10 feet above my head. Tall ladders leaned up against book shelves so readers could just barely reach that one book on the top shelf that intrigued them. I wasn't in the mood for a climb today, so I settle for the book on one of the bottom shelves. Planets, Stars, the Universe, and Beyond. At least, that's what I preferred to call it. I was never able to remember the title of the many astronomy or jurassic books that I read. I just had a general name for certain books.

I placed the book back onto the shelf and grabbed another a few partitions over. A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. I had always had a small preference for the dark storyline of the series. I opened up the the first page and began to read. The dim lights around me didn't make it hard to read, but instead made me feel more comfortable. This was my home.

I lived in this library. Making my way through every shelf, book, cover, and page. It's where I felt at peace. A place where I could be me. A place where I could be alone in my own small world. I tilt my head back against the shelf behind me. I close my eyes and before I know it I am whisked off into a light sleep.

When I woke, it wasn't much later. There was still a faint glow from the sky that I could see from the door. I grabbed a few of my usual astronomy texts, placed then in my library bag, and made my way to the door.

"Leaving?" Ms. Cheryl asked as I walked by the front desk.

"Yup. I grabbed a few books from the back. My usual books. I might not be back for a week or so. I have a few things to do. I just wanted to make sure I would have a few things to read while I'm gone."

"That's fine. See you soon!"

I waved over my shoulder as I left, walking into the cold once again.

*~~~*~~~*

I make my way back to my home; that library. My father had dropped off my books earlier that week to save me the trouble. I can't believe it's been 8 years since I first saw this library. Being 14 and coming here makes me feel so tall. It was just like that one day in 7th grade when I had come here. Cold and windy.

As I made my way closer I could vaguely see a white paper plastered to the front door. As I got closer I could make out the black words written on it: CLOSED. For the first time I noticed a red sign on the front lawn saying, "For Sale" with a phone number underneath it. I forgot today was the day.

.

The day my home was gone.