It began with a single misplaced book, its spine bent awkwardly between volumes that had nothing to do with its subject matter. The librarian, Clara Winthrop, couldn’t ignore it; the book didn’t belong in the History section, nor anywhere on the fourth floor. She plucked it free—a tattered, unremarkable thing—and opened to the first page. Scrawled in the margins were notes, frantic and looping, th...

Sylia sat on her chair, legs crossed, staring out the window. It was rainy, quiet, peaceful… perfect for reading. People around her were doing just that, reading. She was meant to be supervising, simply making sure nothing got out of hand. What were they expecting to happen? Sylia chuckled to herself, they probably just needed her to shush people. Though, what if something else happened?

A cat got...

It's quiet in this library resting on Thach Ave. It's a sunny Sunday afternoon. A few people linger in the rows of books casing the walls. I'm sitting being the register letting my eyes drift across the book in front of me. I haven't read a single word in the last hour. My mind has been elsewhere. If I am being sincere, my mind has been floating around aimlessly since I landed in Auburn. That was ...

The handsome stranger hands me his book ready to check out, but I’m still lost in deep thought.

I open the book ready to stamp it.

“Miss, are you okay?” The stranger says with a voice that makes me wanna think about OTHER things.

It’s stupid really.

Sitting here in almost complete silence in this small library to keep myself sane, when it’s doing anything but that.

I miss going out with frie...

Mavis Bennett sighed as swapped out the May copy of Time magazine for the newer June issue. The cover read “The Demise of Diabolical Dental Debt” plastered over a set of chompers that would make an Englishmen grimace.

“Why do we even carry these anymore?” She thought as she worked her way over to the Sports Illustrated slot. Even “any reading is good reading” Mavis knew magazines were dead. She h...

I think this is where Baby Jesus was born. No, I’m certain of it. Right here in section C31 with the religious texts. I can feel his presence....

The dainty tinkle of the bell staggers across the large expanse of foyer and I look up and immediately think _another infestation_.

There are four of you and you all look like you don’t belong here. Because you can’t read or, if you do, you only read hardbound and only the first few pages. So you can post pictures of your _aesthetic_ books and brag _this is what I’m reading now #bookworm_.

You’r...

Just look at them, going through the shelves, living their normal lives. Why do they have to look this happy? And this perfect? Life isn't perfect. At least not mine... But theirs is. It's unfair. I have to stay in this damn dusty library all day. When was the last time I saw the sun?

No. No, I shouldn't think like that. There are people worse off than me. I shouldn't complain.

Oh, just look at ...

Tracy scanned the pile of books the large middle-aged man set in front of her. A high fantasy book of high renoun stuck out to her. As she reached out to scan it back into the system, a gruff voice asked, “Actually can I renew that one?”

Looking up, Tracy gasped as an ork put a green hand with leathery skin on the cover of the book. He shot her a questioning look and pulled the book closer to him...

Her fingertips caress language, desiring to inscribe next to them. Yet she continues reshelving the books. Standing atop the cherry red step ladder she fixed her plaid skirt as to not flash the passerby of the “Religion” section. Amanda stood atop that bookshelf and peered over the adjacent one. Noticing a man, a real definition of a man. Shoulders broad enough to block the aisles, height of the s...