Maybe in another lifetime

Chapter One

I was woken by my alarm clock. Must've forgotten to turn it off last night, I think to myself.

I usually have school at this time, but today is some kind of holiday, not that I could care less. Letting out a loud groan, I force myself out of bed. Time on my phone reads: 9:20am. I decide to make some coffee, before heading to the library. Well not really a library, but a room only for my books. My safe place.
I've begged my parents to let me have my own tiny house-library, becouse every single corner of my room was filled with books. When they agreed, the whole "tiny house-library" turned into something bigger, something much bigger.

Heading to the coffee machine, I see a bright neon sticky-note on the fridge. As I move closer, I can recognize what the letters on it say.

We'll be back soon. Food for the weekend is in the fridge xx.

Nothing new.

My parents often go on business trips, sometimes for a few days, but I don't mind. It's perfect time for me to read my books, uninterrupted.

I love reading. It takes me to magical places, away from reality and sometimes I get so lost in them, I forget the time. Which, while we're at it, is exactly what I'm going to do, first thing in the morning. Just me, my coffee and my precious babies. I grab a book and my steaming hot cup of coffee and make my way to the library.

The book I'm reading is my favourite book of all times: "Dangelions". I especially love the main character, Charles. People think it's dumb falling in love with a book character, but I don't think they understand or feel the comfort while reading books. It's magical.

~

I take my last sip of coffee, flipping to the last page of the book.

My eyes soon meet the page, which words always sadden me: "Acknowledgments".

Worst feeling a reader goes through after finishing an amazing book. The empty feeling, knowing it was all just in your head and having to go back to the old, boring and grey reality.

I close it.

I forcefully close my eyes shut as I suddenly get blinded by the strange source of light in front of me. I almost fall back off my chair. I try to open my eyes to see if it's still there, but now there's a six feet tall man standing in front of me. His expression tells me he's too excited, but I'm terrified, which I dont think is hard to miss.

"It worked!", he shouts, smiling from one ear to another.

I'm too shocked to move.

"Who are you?!", I shout back.

"Oh, my apologies," he takes off his hat in a way of greeting me. I only now pay attention to the clothes he's wearing. He does not look like someone you see every day on street, his clothes look.. old-fashioned. I tilt my head as I think of how familiar he looks.

"I'm Charles", he puts his hat back on.

I could swear I'm dreaming. Now I know why he looked familiar, it was HIM. How is this even possible? Either that, or some weirdo broke into my home.

"What are you doing in my house?"

"Your house? I thought this was a library at first". He looks around smiling. His smile.

"Answer my question or I'm calling the police", as if I wasn't already planning to.

"No need for that. I can explain."

I was waiting for him to continue, studying his old fashioned, but yet such beautiful clothes.

"You see, I made a machine. It was a machine that can take me to different dimensions", he inhales, "and for the first time ever, it actually worked!"

My first thought is: "Do you think I'm crazy?", I shout at him.

"My appologies, I know you may be shocked right now, but if you just let me explain myself", I study his lips as he speaks. I may be crazy and delusional for thinking this, but it has to be Charlie. The Charlie. From my favourite book.

I have to make sure it was him though. "What's your full name?", I ask.

"Charles Winston", he says proudly.

"Like THE Charles Winston,", I grab the book I just finished and show him, "from the book?"

He looks at me confused, takes the book out of my hands, saying he has no idea what I'm talking about.

"But I think I understand now", he looks at me, thinking.

"In this dimension, I must me from the book!", he stops for a second. "But how come it only worked now? I've tried to get my machine to work multiple times, it never did. It's the part I don't understand".

"Maybe it has something to do with the reader. I just finished the book, like the second you appeared", I say. He looks directly at me, with his sparkling eyes and rubs his chin. His dark face features. They're even more charming then how I imagined it.

"I know!", he says. " It only works when someone finishes the book! That's why it never worked when I tried it before".

"But I finished this book like eleven times", I add.

"In the last two months?"

"Well, no. I haven't read the book for months, actually".

"I made the machine just four months ago, so it explains why it hadn't worked", he says and I can't help, but feel my cheeks heat up as he talks. His beautiful British accent makes me melt.

"I still don't know your name", he smiles and I so damn hope that this isn't a dream.

"Arya" I answer.

"Pleasure to meet you, Arya."

"May I know your age?", he asks me.

"I'm seventeen", I don't bother asking for his, as I already know.

"Well, Arya, would you mind showing me around this 'dimension'?", he looks around and smiles warmly at me. It takes everything in me not to make the fact how red my cheeks have gotten so obvious. This is like a dream-come-true. And I hope I won't ever wake up.

I agree on showing him around, trying to hide the nervousness with an awkward smile.