I stared at the bookshelves in my room that filled the walls. They were stuffed to the brim with books, all of which I had adored throughout my childhood.

I stroked the spines of some of my favorites, which were primarily fantasy. I got to visit magical worlds, only to be taken away from them the moment I closed the last book.

I didn’t expect to find myself emotional, but I still felt tears pricking my eyes. I let only a few slip before rubbing them off with my sleeve.

“It’s time to grow up, Eleanor. Time for the real world.”

“You almost ready, honey? The drive to NAU is a long one,” my mom yelled from downstairs.

“Yes, I’m coming!”

I blinked back my tears and stared at the books.

“You’ll make another kid happy, like you made me.”

I knew they couldn’t hear me, but they might as well have been my favorite stuffed animal.

I gave them one last look over my shoulder before closing the door.