Story // 11 Library (story + memory)

I remember as a kid I used to spend my summer days at the library. The minute I walked inside, the cool air brought a sense of calm to my sweaty face and frazzled hair. It was relaxing to be inside a building with so many worlds housed together. What adventure will I go on today? Who will I meet? What city will I visit?

The sci-fi section was always a good choice. Depending on which series I started with, I could travel at speeds that scientists could only dream of. I've seen planets with blue vegetation covering everything, run by little red fireflies. There were an infinite amount of adventures to go on when you traveled intergalactically. But watch out, enemies were around every corner. And oxygen was never abundant enough. Especially when you were stranded on a lava planet.

Sometimes I would feel like solving a mystery or two with my girl, Nancy. She always had a thing for detective work, and still kept up a trendy wardrobe at the same time. She was amazing, and I wanted to go on every mission with her. Sometimes we would have to deal with ghosts, which was my favorite part. Those sneaky spirits were always out to get us, but Nancy knew what to do every time. 

For some reason the stories about the struggle for equality always drew me in right away. Like quicksand I would sink into the plot, never budging from my wooden chair in the reading space. I wanted to know about how other people kept their faith, how in the mist of tragedy they clung to hope. Or how they abandoned it altogether, only to discover it was there with them all along. It terrified me how awful some people were to others, and how the justice system didn't always deliver a fair ruling. Tears would sting in my eyes as I tried to hold down a fast forming lump in my throat. Then I would look up to make sure no one saw just how upset I was getting. 

I remember all the friends I made in each story, all the adventures they took me on. The good news and the bad. The battles we fought. The opinions we influenced. The incredible power of a book will stay with me forever. 

I think this summer I'll wander through the Wild West section. Or maybe take a trip around the world on a pirate ship...I'll let you know if I find any treasure maps.