Her heart would skip a beat at the thought of a story. From the plots to the character arcs, everything breathed life into her very existence. Emma adored everything about books. The scent they carried, the feeling of flipping through their pages, and, above all, the enchanting world they transported her to invited her to stay put in the small library in Maplewood.
For almost two years, she would work at the library stocking the shelves, and checking books out, while sometimes recommending her favorites to people who didn’t know what they wanted. But, surrounded by numerous captivating love stories, she had never encountered one of her own.
That all changed one crisp autumn afternoon.
Emma’s gaze shifted from her desk when the bell rang. Walking in was a boy who looked around her age. He had a slightly disheveled haircut and an aloof look about him, as if he was a character straight out of a coming-of-age novel. He moved at a relaxed pace, deep in thought with his fingertips gliding over the shelves.
A few minutes passed by, and he had approached the front desk, placing a worn out copy of Pride and Prejudice in front of her.
Emma raised a brow. “Classic choice.”
The boy laughed. “Actually, this is for my sister. She has been telling me that I have to read it.”
Emma smiled. “Well, she’s not wrong. It is a great book.”
He placed himself partly on the counter. “I will take your word for it. Also, while I’m here, I could use a recommendation. I would like something … well, I don’t know something that lingers with you after you are done reading it.”
Emma toiled a bit with her mind, before deciding to pick up the copy of The Night Circus. “This one. It is magical but in a way that feels realistic, like love – it creeps up on you.”
The boy regarded her first with his eyes and then with the book. “I like that.” There was a pause, but then he added, “I’m Noah, by the way.” Instead of the hesitant look that he reserved earlier while smiling, Emma noticed that he gave his proper name with confidence.
“Emma,” she said.
For few weeks after that, Noah kept showing up at the library. In the beginning, he would only check out books, but then things began to change. He started talking to Emma more often. They would sit together on the library steps after closing, sharing books they liked and their favorite characters, and how neither of them were fond of books with sad or bad endings.
One day, Emma was shelving while washing maze books and she happened to come upon a small piece of paper note that was packaged
The Night Circus.
Emma, there are stories you read and there are ones you live. How about a coffee? – Noah.
A dash of warmth raced through her veins. She reached for a scrap piece of paper and replied:
Only if we talk about books the whole time. See you at 6?
When Emma walked into the café that night, Noah was already there. He was waving with one hand while clutching a book in the other.
Emma smiled. Perhaps love was not just limited to books. Perhaps, just maybe, her own story was finally beginning.
