-{ Chapter One }-

I walked to the library, the air was sticky and heavy as I walked. The streets are empty and bare of cars and kids. The pavement was warm under my feet. My hair was sticking to the side of my face from the sweat that had built up around my cheekbones. I looked up watching a bird swoop down landing on a tree branch letting out a call. Its twig-like feet hooked around the branch as it sang happily, Its wings were tucked around its small body. It looked around the bird's tiny eyes darting around looking for anything that could cause any harm to it. The world is all about running away. We run away from our problems, our fears, even some people. Oh, what I would give if I could just fly away any time I wanted to. My wings would catch my fall from every location. They would set me free from the running that I so often did. They would save me from me.

I walked into the library, the cold air hitting me all at once. I walked over grabbing my punch card from my pocket that was warmer than the air around me. I pulled it out and the corner of my pocket was inside out but I didn't really care. I was only restocking shelves anyway. I put the card in the little red pocket behind that counter that had my name on it. Looking at all the others that had gone home or were here. I slipped my name badge out of the pocket sticking it to my chest. I looked around at the wholesome little library and walked toward the stained yellow bin of books in which I would be restocking.

I dragged the heavy bin out from under the white countertops with leftover blue and red ink on them from marking the back of the books. I picked it up, letting the other half of the bin rest on my hip and my handheld the other side. My navy blue shirt was pulled up a little and resting on the edge of the bin. Some of my stomachs was exposed. Though I didn't bother to fix it. The bin left an indent in my hand as I walked to the first aisle. The disgusting and unsanitary bin scratched me underneath my shirt.

Once I arrived at my destination I picked a book inside the bin looking at it before returning it to the correct location. It had a baby blue old cover with gold leaves and vines around the side of the book and all over the cover. Each vine was delicately weaving its way in between the letters that were in-readable in my opinion. I skimmed the side of the book with my fingers as I put it back on the shelf. The book almost felt like old used leather. It had the musty smell of an antique store and looked to have hand-painted flowers with the gold vines on the side. Although not exposing the author's name I began to wander until someone rang the very obnoxious bell at the counter. I sighed and dragged my feet over to the counter for my first human interaction of the day.

"Hello, how may I be of assistance?" I asked in the tone of a very fake human. Who even talks like that? No one does. They must think that talking like a robot improves people's day, or maybe I'm the only one who doesn't talk like that. Maybe I'm the only one with this fake joy.

"I was looking for the kid's books, do you know where those happen to be?" the young woman asked, snapping me out of my thoughts the second I heard her voice. She had brown hair tied back using a hair tie strands of her hair falling out with the little gray that she had in her hair. Her voice was high-pitched and slightly squeaky, a voice I personally did not find enjoyable. She smelled of old roses a sent most mid-aged woman seemed to enjoy.

"Yes, I just so happen to know. Walk down the 8th aisle and it should be to your left," I said with a fake smile. It slowly faded away and the sore spot in my cheek from having to do that all day was relieved. Her heels clicked on the somewhat white flooring as she disappeared from the 8th aisle. My palms were already sweating and I couldn't even hold the book in my hand without it slipping out of it when I walked back over to the bin. As you can already tell I am very awkward in social situations which is not the best thing when working at a library, but the library was my favorite place.

Each book was filled with a new adventure. A new life. You could live a thousand, even millions of lives in one book. The best part is it's a break away from your own. Almost like floating away into another dimension. I've read countless books. Almost every single one in the library. From the classics down to the ones that are more current. Every single one I slide a paper into the back of the book that states "Rin was here". I like to have the closing thought of knowing that most people won't remember me when I'm gone, but at least the books will. Every single person who reads a book will find a different perspective than the last. Although only the book knows yours because it created one. It created a perspective for you and for you only. It may seem odd that my best friends are little kids that range from the age of four to nine and books.

Some people, well most people may judge me for that. Although that is what makes me, me. I have watched people of all ages grab books. Each book they grab tells me a little bit more about their personality. If you like horror then you obviously like having the answer to the crime because maybe there's a question in your real life that you may not have the answer to. If you like fantasy you feel life is too serious and you need a break from reality. If you like romance you feel lonely and you're scared that your future may not meet your standards. If you like science fiction you feel that you need more adventure. You feel that you must take all the risks in life because you are afraid that your life will amount to nothing by the end. There are many more genres, but those are just the common ones. I watch out the huge window that fills the musty library with light. The dust particles danced in front of the window. I have just now realized how dusty the inside of the library is. The leaves are dancing in the light wind as one falls and gracefully lands on the ground. The soft grass-catching its fall. The bright green leaves bounce the color on the white walls as the sun shines through them.

My eyes wander from the leaves over to the children while one of my fellow employees reads to them. Their eyes darted from each page watching the pictures, while only two of them seemed actually interested in the story. I dragged the book bin back over to the other shelf putting the books back from alphabetical order and color order. I enjoyed organizing them. Although my organization never lasts too long, some kid always comes in here messing up everything that was once wonderfully in order. After they leave every single day I have to fix what they have ruined. I don't mind though. My life is basically full of picking up after other people. My mother and my older brother died in a car crash while I was at the age of six, so it's just me and my father.

The day seems to go by so slowly when I'm at home so that's why I got the job at the library. It picks up the pace of the day which can be nice. I never like to spend too much time at home, but I mean what's not to love. Almost every day we just order take out and I have to clean up afterward. My father just sits on the couch all day watching the news. He takes breaks to eat and naps in between, but that is what his day consists of. I don't blame him. I would probably do the same thing after losing the person I love and my firstborn child.