Whims of a Quiet Dreamer

Chapter 2: The World Outside

The next morning, sunlight streamed through her thin curtains, casting a golden glow across the cluttered room. Sithu stretched lazily, still half-dreaming of the magical world she had read about the night before. She took her time getting dressed, selecting an outfit that felt more like a character from one of her beloved stories than an adult setting out into the city.

Her wardrobe was a mix of whimsical choices—vintage dresses adorned with stars, oversized cardigans, and jewelry that looked like it had been borrowed from a fairy tale. Today, she added her favorite brooch, a small silver dragon, to complete the look.

Work at the library was her only tie to the outside world, but even that felt infused with its own kind of magic. The scent of old books, the quiet hush of visitors, and the chance to be surrounded by stories every day made it feel less like a job and more like a sanctuary.

After locking the door behind her, Sithu made her way down the street toward the train station. The morning air was crisp, and the usual buzz of the city stirred around her, but she barely noticed the crowds hurrying by. Walking through the streets in her colorful, mismatched clothes, she often caught the occasional glance, but she'd long grown used to it. The train ride that followed was a necessary part of her routine, though it wasn't something she looked forward to. The noise, the people, the constant hum of life around her—it could be overwhelming at times, but it was the only way to reach the library.

The station was bustling as always, and Sithu quietly slipped into the background, blending into the sea of commuters. Once on the train, she found a spot by the window and let her thoughts drift. The city sped by in a blur of grays and blues, but her mind was far away, back in the world of fantasy she had woven in her dreams.

When she finally arrived at the library, a sense of calm washed over her. This place, with its smell of worn pages and the quiet order of its shelves, was her refuge from the chaos outside. Her colleagues were polite but distant, and she knew they found her odd—the quiet woman who kept to herself, out of sync with the usual rhythms of adult life. But she didn't mind. Sithu had stopped explaining herself long ago.

As the hours passed and the library emptied out, Sithu's thoughts wandered to Jaren. She missed him. When they had lived closer, they would meet up more often, sharing long talks about dreams, life, and all the nonsense that made sense only between them. Now, their monthly meetings were like a breath of fresh air in a world that sometimes felt too rigid for her.

When the time came to leave, she stepped out into the darkening sky, her mind already drifting. The walk back to the train station felt like moving through a familiar dream, her steps soft on the pavement. The ride home was quieter, the train less crowded, and she welcomed the solitude.

Soon, she would be back in her safe space, where the outside world and all its expectations couldn't reach her. In her little kingdom of stories and daydreams, she was free.