The Demon I Let Ruin Me

ONE

Today I start my job at the public library near my house and I'm so excited. They tell you to do something you love for a living and you'll never work a day in your life, I hope that's true as I love to read.
Most people nowadays think reading is boring so I suppose I'm one the very few people left that can pick up a book and not be able to put it down.
I'm also excited to work there because I practically grew up there, I read almost any book I could get my hands on and all throughout school that's where I wound up to study or just read. Now I'm in college and I still go there when I need to take my mind off things. It'll be good to get paid and read, that's what I plan on doing after college anyways. A fiction editor is my dream job so majoring in it obviously seemed like the right way to go. For now, just working around books seems like the best way to be able to make money.

I finish getting ready, curling my hair and putting it into a ponytail, letting the waves fall on my back. I turn to see the outfit I've had sitting on my dresser for 3 days now, it took those 3 days to finally decide on what to wear. A knee length red, white and blue, plaid, checkered skirt and a blue button up, long sleeve shirt with ruffles on the sleeves and neckline.
I actually ended up going out and purchasing this outfit a few days ago because I didn't like anything in my closest. And lastly a pair of black flats. I give myself one last look before grabbing my purse and keys and heading to my car.
When I get in my car, I turn on the radio and start the drive, it's not a far drive, barely 10 minutes. The Beatles play quietly through my car as I think about what my first day will consist of.

Once I arrive, I park next to a black truck and go inside. It's a beautiful old building, at least a century old and I can't believe it's still up and running but I'm glad.
When I go up to the front desk I am greeted by a girl I have never seen here, of course, I'm usually here in the late afternoons. This girl as her feet propped up on the desk and she's staring at her phone so I should use the term "greeted" lightly here. She has long black hair that drapes over her band T-shirt, reading glasses and a pair of ripped jeans.

"Hello?" I clear my throat subtly to get her attention. She looks up from her phone and pulls her thumb away from her mouth as she was clearly chewing her fingernails. She raises her eyebrow at me like she's waiting for me to explain why I interrupted her. "I'm Mckayla, I'm the new librarian," I explain.

"Alex," she states her name as she stands up. "And don't say, librarian. It makes us sound old, I'm 25, not 100. Say, bookkeeper." she explains. I nod at her quietly, not sure how to respond. " it's pretty simple. There's barely anyone here this early in the morning, y' know people have jobs and shit." she pauses as she comes around the desk. I can't believe she just said that word, here at her place of work. "I mean, they'll occasionally be a few people who are just here for the computers." she hooks her thumb behind her, pointing to the computers.
"Come on, let me show you around," she says and I want to tell her I know this place like the back of my hand but I don't.

Once the tour is over, the only place that's new to me is the staff room which a small room with a couch, a tv and some kitchen appliances. In which, she explains that she takes a lot of naps in there.
"We're starting you out downstairs, in the kid's section. There's not a whole lot to do. Considering we get maybe 3 kids a day." she explains and she takes me downstairs to show me how to check out books. The room is fairly large, 3 computers sit on the far wall across from where the desk is. There are 4 large sections of bookshelves, going from kindergarten to teenager. The rest is large tables with chairs, a few bean bags, and a section for reading time, one large chair sits next to the wall and there's a mat.
I remember sitting there when I was young and being read to, I remember the woman so clearly, she was an elderly lady, she had short white hair, always wore Christmas sweaters, even in summer and smelled like mothballs and perfume. The day she stopped coming in a mean boy told me she died and I cried all day.