Catch Me When I Fall (Open)

[Meisha Shylin]

Meisha loved the library. It was one of her favorite places in Ports. Surprisingly, she loved the quiet, something that was hard to come by within the bustling city. She loved the historical quality the library held in all its pages. But what she loved most was her place: a small hideaway in a shadowed corner of the library, near the fiction section, its walls stacks of old and forgotten books reaching almost seven feet tall. She'd discovered it a few months ago, and found it was the best place to escape from her busy peers. Not even the librarian bothered to wander back to Meisha's place anymore, all the books there were no longer needed by anyone, not even the librarian.

Meisha began to bring provisions to the small nest of books; pillows, candles, even a desk and chair, anything she thought would make it a more homely place to study. She found herself spending most of her free time in her corner, and though it was big enough for at least three, she was always there alone; just how she liked it.

She had decided to skip lunch and beat the rush of people and the slowness of traffic. She'd get a good selection of books to choose from if the library were deserted, leaving her extra time to read without voices.

She gave the librarian a small smile before grabbing a few choice books off the nearest shelf and heading to that familiar corner in the back of the library. On her way, Meisha thought that she had heard someone else enter the doors only minutes after her and have a small conversation with the librarian, but she shrugged it off.

After dropping off her things, she realized she'd forgotten a crucial addition to her stack of books: The Encylopedia of Antidotes by Delio Pointvale. She headed into the depths of the vast library, knowing by heart exactly where the 'potions' section was. She spotted the encyclopedia shelves above her head and sighed. She stood on the tips of her toes, craning her neck and stretching her arm as far as it would go. Yet the novel was still only at the tips of her fingers. Taking a deep breath, Meisha attempted to reach for the book again.

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