The life of a withering flower [COMPLETED ✔️]

Chapter 2

I was on my way to the library, that day.

"Yo! What a co-incidence", she chipped, appearing from a corner.

"Stop dragging me into your co-incidences", I said glancing at her and then on my way.

"Life is full of co-incidences, and I can't stop the chain until and unless, life stops it", she said folding her hands behind her head.

"Where are you headed to?", she asked coming in my view.

"The library", I said, pushing her aside and walking forward.

"Library is a quiet and peaceful place too. I might accompany you", she said catching upto me.

"Don't you have plans with your friends?", I asked. I didn't want her beside me, because she was toxic. And, I was afraid she would make me toxic, too.

"All of them went back", she answered.

"Then why did you not go back too?", I asked without looking at her.

I felt her eyes glance at my direction before she answered, "There was something I needed to take care of".

"If you are done, then go back home", I said.

"No one is there at home and it's kind of boring and lonesome.", she replied.
I didn't ask further. She didn't talk further. We walked to the library. Together. I had something I wanted to fulfill. She came to pass time. We were different. Opposite, to be frank. But, as theoretical I am, I believe opposites attract. And, I don't want to be attracted to anyone. I don't want to have emotions. For, emotions empty people. The weakness in man, comes from these emotions.

"I don't really like fantasy. Do you have any suggestion for sci-fi?", she asked breaking my thoughts. She was already ransacking the abode of books.

"Dune. Nineteen eighty Four. Frankenstein. Fahrenheit 451", I listed.

"Woah... You know a lot about these things", she exclaimed.

I turned around to the fiction section.
"I come here often", I muttered.

I could feel her eyes on me and then a smile on her lips.

"Fictional world is the best place to confide in when the world is no longer the best place to live in", I heard her say.
True. Really true. The only reason I come to the library.
I could not help but see what she was doing. "I don't really read books. But, when I do, I find peace", she said to me. She looked at me. I skipped a heart beat there.

Xxxx

I didn't pay much attention to her.
"Hey, are you free after this?", she asked whispering into my ears.
"What if I am not?", I counter questioned.

"If you are not. It's fine", she shrugged and sat across me.

"These books are so tiring", she whined.

"Can you keep your volume low? There are people trying to actually study, you know?", I scoffed.

"Aren't there any light books that I can complete in an hour or so?", she lifted her left brow while she asked so.

"You can complete the book you are holding in an hour if you read diligently", I said, uninterested in her talks.

"But, it is so thick", she complained again.

"Sizes don't matter", I said back.

"I don't like books much. That's it. Aren't there any erotic books around?", she asked.

I jumped back as I yelled "What?!".
There were glances and glares my way. I apologized before sitting back.

"Why do you ask that question?", I asked, sure that the tips of my ears had turned to a tinge of crimson.

"You are not that cold hearted, then", she said slumping back with her hands behind her head.

"I am not into books much. But, there is one book I have liked since my childhood. It's just simple words woven to give the reader pleasure. But, it deeply portrays, how one should not give up after getting through a storm sent by life. We all have been through something or the other. But, sometimes when there is a big damage, we decide to back off. I learnt, that is not how life is lived. Even if you die in that storm, you will live with dying. That's magical. Truly magical. That's why, we need to gather experiences from every problem and put it up in front of the problem. Digging dipper, we will surely find the solution to our problems", she ranted on. Surely, the other readers around had ears long enough to hear her. But, no one said anything. She didn't apologize for the ruckus. It was as if, everybody was apprehended by her striking words.
"Is it so? Then, allow me to borrow that book sometime", I said closing the book that I was reading.

"Right now, I am reading it again. So I will give it to you when I am done", she beamed at me.

I wonder from where does all that light come from? From her heart... Or her eyes?

Xxxx

"Why are you following me?", I asked, now irritated to her.

"I said already. Nobody is at home and it is lonesome and boring", she chimed.

"How is following me entertaining you?", I asked.

"Having a company is better than staying alone", she chided.

I sighed heavily and turned to a park.
"Why did you come here?", she asked me.

"My wish. If you don't feel well, you can go back", I replied.

"It's not that", she said as she looked around.

"It feels so fresh", she said inhaling the air and looking at the blossomed bougainvillea.

I seated myself on a bench. I took out my phone and confirmed my appointment for my appendix surgery.

"You are going to a hospital this Friday?", all of a sudden, she asked nearing me.

"I am sorry. I didn't want to eavesdrop. But somehow the words flew into my ears", she bit her tongue as she said this.

I looked at her for a moment and sighed.

"Yes. For my appendix surgery", I opened up.

"Oh. Then, All the best", she smiled at me.

"Yeah. Whatever", I said uninterestedly.

"How are you so acknowledgeable to people?", I asked. Not trying to sound interested, I added, "I mean how can you stand standing out and everyone reading you?"

She looked at me for a few seconds and then blinked.

"I would actually stand out, if I tried to close my story, and stay away from them. Well, you stay away from everyone. And everyone can read everything about you. How you are tired. How you are lonely. Everything. And if there's someone close to you, then you can't hide even the deepest secrets that you have been hiding from everyone. That's why, the best way to avoid all these is to blend in. No one will think that you are out of the circle. No one will be suspicious of you. You don't want your story to be read. Closing it for others is not the only option. Write another one and let others read it in place of the actual story", she beamed at me.

Was it actually true?

If emotions were to devour human minds, can I act like I am being devoured? What is it to be like an ideal?