A/N Chapter three woohoo!

III.

It was Winter 20 and she was done writing her version of the legend of the snowdrop flower. She was able to quiet her head down after answering all her answers through this story. Except for one...

This greatly bothered her actually. This is because no matter what she'd think or write, she wouldn't know the real answer. Gray would still pass by. Each time he'd open the door before leaving, he'd always pause and look like he was about to say something.

Maybe he was being polite? Maybe he was deciding whether to keep back negative remarks about the chocolate. She would understand...although she loved that creamy blast of sugar on her tongue, she herself was not an expert on actually making it.

But hey, it's the thought and effort that count right?

"Morning."

"Whoa!"

Mary was so concentrated on her thoughts and rearranging books on the topmost bookshelf that she did not notice Gray come in. This resulted in her dropping the book she was holding. Gray picked it up for her.

" 'The Snow Queen'. Were you reading it?"

"Um," Mary said. She tucked her hair behind her ear before going down the ladder. "I have read it, yes, but not just now. I read it...I don't know how many years ago. Have you?"

"Nope," he replied. He opened the book and leafed through it. "How is it?"

"I don't remember much actually. I remember some details, but no longer the plot..."

"Huh," said Gray. "Guess your novel's even better than this one. Why not publish it?"

Since Gray was the only other person that frequently made use of the library, they had become relatively close with each other. Summer that year, Mary had finished a novel and asked him to read it. Did she just hear him tell her that that novel was better than the Hans Christian Andersen classic?

"Oh," she replied. "Thank you. Well the island doesn't have a printing machine of sorts to actually make copies of it, and I don't leave the island either so..."

"You should," he insisted. "Publish it, I mean. Don't leave your library for too long though. Won't be a library without the librarian."

Mary smiled. "Well it wouldn't be a library either if nobody took the time to appreciate it. It's like winter, actually, or any season for that matter. It wouldn't be beautiful if there was no one to appreciate it."

"Nah," said Gray. He shifted his cap and crossed his arms as he held on to the book. "Beauty is always there. What just happens is who notices it varies."

Silence followed. Mary realized there that another thing people don't take time to appreciate would be: people.

"Anyways," Gray continued. "Uh, happy birthday."

He reached into his jacket and took out a folded piece of paper.

"Here's...something. See you. And thanks for the chocolate," he added. With that, he handed her the book and the paper and left.

Mary stared at the paper in her hands.

...

Mary had stared, poked and left the paper alone for a couple of minutes a couple of times just to test its existence.

Visible? Check.

Takes up space? Check.

Solid? Check.

Does not disappear? Check.

She has definitely proven its existence. The question now is the content.

Contains something within its folds? Nope. It was just a piece of paper.

Contains something to be read? After all, it could just be a random piece of paper. Mary opened it and saw ink forming symbols that looked like letters. The letters, in turn, have been grouped to form words. The words, in turn, seem to have been divided to form phrases or sentences. These, lastly, seem to have been organized to give off meaning.

Does it bite?

Now that's just ridiculous, Mary thought. She was stalling and she knew it.

"Might as well open it..." she said.

This is a birthday poem

Which I have written at home

Forged under moonlight, which sounds romantic

So I could at least say this isn't pathetic sounds poetic.

This poem rhymes too

Because you told me it's what poems do.

So happy birthday, Mary.

From your friend, who is not named Gary.

Was it a moving poem? Check.

Had an understandable message? Check.

Unforgettable? Definitely.

Mary smiled to herself. This was one of the best birthday gifts she has ever received.

A/N It is 2am in the morning... But yay I typed in two chapters tonight 3 I shall continue typing tomorrow—err I mean later today. :)

-Iris