Raven and her coworker, Tyrell Jones, at Buttermilk Channel, a quaint eatery with hearty Canadian food. The spot was a couple of doors down from Indigo Library, and was a popular spot for breakfast and brunches— which Raven and Tyrell were having now. They were seated at the outdoor eating area, waiting for their meals to be presented to them.

The August wind was carefully washing away the warmth of summer, but the memories of such would always remain in the people's hearts.

Tyrell Jones was a young man in his twenties— well-melanated skin, rich brown eyes, and his afro-textured hair was in the form of mini twists. He had two lobe piercings on each ear, and a glove of tattoos on his right hand.

He and Raven had become good friends over their time at Indigo.

"I would have never thought in a million that Indigo would be closing." Tyrell said, scrolling on his phone.

Raven replied, "Well, from what Mrs. Palermo told me, the institution itself isn't closing. Indigo is remodeling into a more tech-centered place."

"How much more tech-centered can Indigo be? I mean, it already has big screens to navigate, gigantic study pods, and machines that could probably solve what you had for dinner last night."

"The quality and meaning of libraries are deteriorating all over the world, not just Canada. It's just… so disheartening," Raven sighed as she watched Tyrell's thumb continue to roll on his screen, "How technology is making this world lose touch of everything,"

Tyrell looked up gingerly, catching the hint of irritation in Raven's voice.

He put his phone down, then started fiddling with straw paper.

"I'm sorry. I'm looking for what position I should apply for."

Indigo Library was becoming less of a place for books, and more of a place to teach the young generations like high schoolers and college students about marketing.

Although Indigo was diverse in material it had to offer, and had a decent rush of customers, funds were still low compared to years ago. Clientele was unsteady, because the attendance to libraries on a whole had dropped drastically. The empirical reality was that libraries were no longer the top three places for anyone anymore, in fact, recent statistics show that the average Canadian rarely steps foot in one.

Libraries have almost become inconvenient:

With the world at people's fingertips, the need for dictionaries and encyclopedias depleted. Almost everyone had a printer at home that could print, fax, and copy documents. Libraries, these days, were only used in full on college campuses by students who wanted to study— most wouldn't even be there to delve into a good book. The state of technology in the current world was rendering libraries almost obsolete.

At current, Indigo was cutting down on librarian-like positions and opening new employment opportunities that catered to profit and entrepreneurship. This was a shocking, but normalized case, as other libraries have been buried in replacements as fashion stores, banks, or other money-greedy establishments.

"You don't want to find another library to work at?" Raven asked, there was a dent of hopelessness in her voice.

"I dunno, Raven. The options are pretty slim. There's not another library in ten miles of this place," pronounced Tyrell.

"But marketing isn't like you at all, Ty. Last time I checked, all that mattered to you was helping people find the latest Stephen King works, and convert them to Rick Riordan ways."

"It still matters to me, it's just…" Tyrell frowned, shaking his head, "The way the world works these days, you have to adjust to certain odds. I'm looking at the pay rate for a marketing and publicity assistant, and it's a good jump from what we're getting paid right now. And I can tell you, the checks we get from Indigo are barely making it. For me, at least. I've had enough skipped meals and delayed car bills from being underpaid. I only stayed at Indigo, because I knew my heart belonged and wanted to be there. With books. With people. But, in this life, it seems that you could want anything in this world, but reality will always have the say."

"No, you don't have to "adjust". I believe there's always a way to live the life you want while providing for your needs. There's so much creativity and connection that comes from working directly with library-oriented elements. You're willing to throw that all away for more of what this world wants? Money? Ty, you'll probably be staring at numbers and screens all day at this new job. I know you, and I know that you don't do well with stuff like that."

The conversation breaks as the waiter pleasantly places the meals on the table. The pair say "thank you", and continue talking.

Tyrell, noshing on a warm blueberry muffin with butter, "You're right, Raven. I'm more of a kinetic and interactive person. But…"

"You're going to make this system change who you are, for money."

"You're taking this way too seriously."

Raven protested, "I'm not!"

Tyrell raised his eyebrow at the raise of Raven's voice.

"I think you are," Tyrell grinned smugly with a slight raise of his eyebrow, "Anyway, what's your game plan?"

"I… I don't know…" Raven frowned, blankly stirring her hot chocolate with a silver spoon.

"My guess is, you want to stay with the books?" Tyrell inquired.

"I have to stay with the books, Ty. I have to, I know it's in my heart. I'm not inclined to anything else."

"I get that, but what does that mean for you financially? Like I said, Raven. The library counts are low and getting lower, you can't revolve your whole life around something that's becoming impossible."

Raven thought quietly for a moment.

Tyrell was right. She needed to have a game plan. This world always required you to have one; no matter how confusing, sudden, or painful changes to survive could be.


After brunch, Tyrell and Raven headed back to Indigo for an outplacement workshop.

Outplacement was an employer-sponsored benefit typically provided to help laid off or terminated workers find a job.

The staff was seated around a burnished, sepia, long table with water bottles on the right hand side of every seat.

Seated at the head of the table was Annette Palermo, an Afro-Latina woman with dark brown, thick curly hair, hazel eyes, and a russet complexion, was the manager of Indigo Library.

Annette was reticent and always seemed bothered. She was one of those people, if you saw her smile, it looked strange. Her face was always bent into a grimace. And honestly, had she been less abrasive, her charms in her features would come to light. Anette was, truthfully, a beautiful woman, but her disposition threw everything off.

Raven took her seat, feeling tense right off the bat.

She wasn't inclined to the idea of business-like faces suppressing their character under ties and button ups.

Tyrell slid right next to Raven, and nudged her arm softly.

He said, "Lighten up, chuckles,"

Raven sighed, shaking her head.

"Good Afternoon, everyone," Annette began, "Today we designed an outplacement workshop for you all. We are aware that the recent change at Indigo Library has caused some rearrangements for you; which hand has caused some panic. Nonetheless, we have, joined with us today, some outplacement coaches that can help you highlight your experience and skills, and where to carry those assets as it fits," She gestured to seven people in black button-down tops and red blazers,

" — Whether that means remaining at Indigo, or bringing your contributions elsewhere."

"On Outlook, you'll see that I have assigned you all with a coach, which you all will spend a half hour with in some of the smaller conference rooms set up around the premises. In about an hour and a half, we'll reconvene for light snacks, and our next workshop will be tomorrow. You are welcome to return if you found today's session helpful, as well as you have the option to not show up," Annette pursed her lips, "You are all adults and I trust that you can use your own discernment."

Then she stepped down from the spotlight, and the chatter and bustle of people finding their coaches began.

Raven met with her coach, Aurelle Jackson, a young, African American woman with almond eyes, brown-pigmented skin, and thick, coily locks.

They greeted, settled in the miniature conference room, and Aurelle stacked some papers together, then rested them down.

Aurelle's voice was welcoming, "So, Raven. How can I help you?"

"I… I don't know." Raven nervously vibrated her leg under the table.

"That's okay, I'll find a way to help. First, tell me a little about yourself."

Raven told Aurelle the whole professional summary, where she was Alumna, her achievements in higher education, and her experience at Indigo.

"I see. So, do you want to continue working at Indigo?"

"Not if they run down the whole meaning of books." Raven said, curtly.

Aurelle caught the hint of annoyance, but smiled.

Raven chuckled timidly, "Yeah, I mean… I can't just give up my passion for the name of corporate businesses and auto-conditioning. I want to work at a library, at all costs."

"I hear you. Let's look for some library jobs on Indeed," Aurelle opens her computer, "You live here, in Waterloo?"

"Yes."

"Okay," Aurelle types deftly, then scrolls. "Hmmm…"

Aurelle states, "There's Barnes and Noble…"

Raven returned, "Those are my last resort, only because Barnes and Noble is a form of retail, and I try to steer clear of places that equate books to a dollar amount. Is there a public library or something? Indigo is public and huge, and it's a much more hectic environment than I prefer, but at this point, if another public library can land me a job between the shelves, I'll have it."

Aurelle turns the screen towards Raven.

"There's not another library for about one hundred and twelve kilometers (70 miles) from here."

Raven focuses on the display, "Toronto?"

"Yes, Bloor Gladstone. That's about an hour and change of a drive from here."

Raven's head was fuzzy, "Okay. I'll check it out. I, uh… I don't have anything else to discuss, honestly. Thank you so much for everything, Aurelle."

"Of course, Raven," the woman hands over her business card. "Just call or shoot me an email if you need anything."

Raven gives another round of thanks, and leaves the building. She knew Tyrell was going to ask why she didn't return to the second half of the meeting, but she'd hold that problem off until later.

Right now, Raven just felt unsuccessful and unfit for this system.

Nothing she desired was coming as easily as it should. Why couldn't she want to switch into big profit-positions as willingly as Tyrell? Why did what she love have to be burning out on both sides of the candle in this economy?

Raven was an internal clutter of confusion, frustration, anxiety, and she felt the cracking point coming about slowly, but surely.

Just outside, Raven's best friend, Xena, was waiting in her car (blasting Nicki Minaj while she was at it).

Xena was Raven's best friend from college. Xena was of Indian descent, her dark, full eyes, voluminous hair, and tawny colored complexion.

Xena was a personality on edge. She always wore showy makeup, and dressed up like she was going to daily raves. In addition, Xena and Raven shared their apartment together.

"So let me get this straight, wait, I'm the rookie? But my features and my shows ten times your pay? 50K for a verse, no album out. Yeah, my money's so tall that my Barbies gotta climb it—"

Xena realized Raven was seated in the passenger seat, then turned down the music.

Xena said, "Sorry, Rae. Didn't realize you even got in here."

"Who would with the music vibrating down to the muffler." Raven responded.

Xena checked her blind spot, pulled out into the road. "Someone's sassy."

Raven opened her current read, Endless Night by Agatha Christie. "Actually not, I guess I have a pretty neutral voice that can be interpreted as disrespect. I mean, I can rap my sentences in Barb if you understand it better that way."

Xena scoffed, biting back the retort on her tongue. She still kept Nicki's feature on Monster thundering through the car, even though Raven was clearly reading.

Xena wasn't a woman of sharp insight.

Xena asked, "Anyway, how was your day?"

Raven monotoned, "Fine, and yours."

"Dreary as usual. I'm going out to the club this weekend, at least that's exciting. God knows I need to wash down this week's stress with some Daiquiri."

Raven sighed quietly, turning the page.

"You know, Rae, like always. My offer's open. We can get you all cute and dressed up. We can get you a man."

Raven declared, "And like always, I will close your offer. You know I don't like parties."

Xena shot back, "Raven, you're never gonna get any action if you keep yourself closed off from everyone."

"Maybe I don't want action. And I'm not keeping myself closed off, I just have my own way of having fun. I like reading books but I never bug you about reading them a thousand times on end."

"I really don't like your attitude." Xena's voice was razor-sharp.

Raven shrugged, "Never said you had to."

"Alright, then." Xena huffed, turned up the radio, and the two remained quiet the remainder of the ride.


hi guys!! i hope u enjoyed this chapter. more updates coming when i am able!! also, gar is coming soon, i promise. just bear w me as we build the story and dimensions. what do u think the tea is w xena n rae? lmk!

— D.