Short story collection

Girl in the library

Why do I love libraries...?
That's a question, my friends keep asking me whenever I refer about the books that I was reading or just mention about my weekend visit to the public library near our college.
I have stopped answering them after trying to explain the significance of books in my life a handful of times for the past two years.

They just don't get it. They think I am being paranoid about this, and according to them, the time I spent keeping my head inside a book, is totally unproductive and futile.

But that doesn't stop me from my books. So like every other week, I am here again to get myself immersed in books and overwhelm myself to such an extent that it makes really hard to breathe properly, and the giddy smile playing on my lips never falter,  while I am here.

Right now, it might sound like that I am acting like a lovestruck teenager and I am glad to accept that I am a bibliophile.
But there are times when I despise being inside my favourite place, not because of the pile of books Infront of my eyes, that I never will be able to read ,even if I only read my entire life  or because of the fact that there are lots of books and I don't have much time to read  besides my academic studies, but the mere fact, I can't take the book from the top of the shelf, just like now.

It has nothing to do with the library facilities, but everything to do with my shortness. I am mentally rolling my eyes right now. Being just five feet, is not really helping me and I really want to get my hands on the book, sitting on the top shelf.

21 lessons for the 21st century by Yuval Noah Harari . I am a big fan of his books..and I was eagerly waiting to read this one.  Since I am very obsessed with it, I had made a hold on this book online and was quite happy about its confirmation.

But, since they chose to place my book on top shelf I was having a hard time to get my book. I looked at the library help desk for help, but since it's a weekend, and lunch break , nobody was around except for the old librarian, who was taking her usual nap at this time.

I sighed disappointedly and checked my wrist watch.
Okay I could wait some time for the help guy to come and get the book.  But the restless girl inside me popped out at the same time and before I realize  it , I was trying my best to touch the book, tiptoeing on my three inches heels and raising my right hand above my head and holding the side of the shelf with my left hand in an attempt to balance myself.

I was able to touch the book after a few attempts, tempting me more that I could do it, but that placebo effect was for a few seconds, before I could take the book, my stupid heel slid causing me lose my balance and land on my butt with a sprained ankle.

' Ouch...that really hurts' I muttered under my breath and tried to move from my awkward position , the way I was sprawled  on the floor was not a pretty sight .

I silently thanked my stars for ditching my maxi dress , due to my inability to drink a cup of milk chocolate shake without spilling all  over my favourite dress. I just felt proud of myself for being clumsy right now, that's why I am clad in jeans and cherry red top, that helped me to keep my awkward position on the floor with less mortification.

The library wasn't crowded, since it was noon and a Saturday.
I was breathing in releif when a low chuckle grabbed my attention. It came from the side of the shelf where I was sitting awkwardly, well... my position right now is far from sitting, but still I am somewhat sitting and this tall guy was laughing at me.

I glared at him in reflex and he laughed a bit more.

'Stop laughing you moron!' I whisper yelled at him considering we were in a library.

He shook his head and walked up to my side, and I huffed at him.

'Are you okay?' he asked me as he gazed at my face with a bit of concern in his features.