Trapped in Books

My hands were positively aching after so many hours writing non-stop. It was my fault for leaving the essay for the last foreseeable minute, but at least I was finally finished and dare I say the result wasn’t any bad, probably a 9.5, 10 if I haven’t spelt anything wrong, which I might have given the rush.

It wasn’t until I’ve put all my pens and the excruciating amount of pages neatly into a folder that I noticed how difficult it was to see, for some reason; the reason being it was night time. How in heavens was it night time? I checked my phone not so long ago and it was something like 5pm! I was a bit thrown out for a while, but it soon turned into a panic, and then into a strange sense of shock which made me laugh incredulously at myself for managing something like this. Locked in a library, who would have thought?

There probably was a way of getting out, so I tried no to panic again, had already done, didn’t enjoy. So I started wandering around looking for maybe some sing in the walls or bookshelves with instructions for this kind of situation, surely someone foresaw that a moment like this would come to be and left some words of guidance (we all know no one did it, but I was finding comfort in lying to myself, so don’t judge my awful coping mechanisms).

It was about ten minutes into my search and I was already prepared to face the fact that I was screwed when I heard it: steps. Alright, there were steps on the library’s wooden floor not so far from me, maybe an employee, maybe a volunteer student that stayed after closing hours to rearrange the books? Well, it’s never too bad to hope! So I stalked into the direction I heard the noise from and looked around with narrowed eyes looking for someone in the dark. I didn’t find anyone after looking into maybe three or four corridors and was starting to think if I hadn’t imagined the sound or maybe it was only wind or some kind of thing when I fell to the ground with the force of a… well I don’t know a suitable analogy, but with a lot of force. Someone had pushed me.

“Hey, who the hell are you?” a strangled voice carrying a forced bravado reached my ears, scaring the heck out of me. The silhouette lurking over me in the dark was thinner than me, if an inch taller, and it seemed tense.

“Sorry, I was just looking for a way out. I thought you could help.”

There was a silent moment where the silhouette stayed put and then it’s shoulders sank.

“For the love of… don’t go staking people like that, I thought you were going to murder me!” the person stretched a hand in my direction and helped me get out of the floor.

“Sorry again, I was just looking for a way out.”

“You said it already.” they said, but without bite to it “Happens that I’m locked too, I’m no knight in shining armour, sorry to disappoint.”

We fell silent for an awkward moment, and then they started talking again.

“So… I’m Misha, and you are?”

“Panicking” I joked, starting to walk again, Misha followed me so I guessed it wasn’t as bad a joke as I thought. “Sorry, I’m Hanna, I was doing a last minute essay and lost track of time.”

“One would think they’d check for students before closing the library, apparently not.” Misha said still following me, me, who had not a single idea of where I was going or what I was going to do.

“Well I was somewhat hidden behind the last row of bookshelves, I don’t like sharing tables with other people, I get too distracted.” I explained. Even if someone ought to have checked, I couldn’t blame them for not wanting to go to the farthest part possible in the building “And you? How did you get locked?”

“Oh…” Misha seemed to level answering or not and I was about to tell they didn’t need to when they started again “I fell asleep.” they said “I know, I’m the absolute stereotype for ‘I got locked in a place’ possible.”

“Well at least it wasn’t your fault, I’m just locked because I was too desperate and didn’t see the time pass.” I assured them and enjoyed the not so awkward silence that followed.

Maybe this wasn’t so bad. Even if it would have been better if Misha had been a kind of volunteer or something, but at least I had company, and it’s a lot easier to get yourself together if the other option was to have a panic attack in front of a complete stranger.

“So you have a plan?” Misha asked in a somewhat nonchalant way, but I could tell they were, if not as worried as me, at least a bit worried.

“As a matter of fact I don’t, but I’m currently working on it.” I tried to pass some confidence but was loosing it by the minute “And anyway, don’t you have some idea? We could come up with something together, I don’t know.” I failed at not sounding pressing.

“I don’t even have charge on my phone to look where I’m going in this blessed place, do you think I have any idea of what to do? Jokes on you, you got locked with the worst side kick in existence.” I couldn’t tell if the self deprecating humor was only a joke or a real opinion, but got too distracted with the realization the comment lead me to.

“Oh, you’re a genius! I have a cellphone!” I said, and the silhouette stopped walking beside me “A charged cellphone!” I finished, and Misha huffed a half exasperated laugh at me.

“You are kidding me that you had light all this time and didn’t bloody use it?” they sounded annoyed but also amused at my clumsiness.

“See, it’s what I said, we could come to a solution together much more easily.” and then I turned on the light.

‘Oh no’ was the first thing to cross my mind upon seeing the silhouette gain a real face. Misha was not only the stereotype of ‘I got locked somewhere’ as they were all the possible things a troublemaker could be. Piercing in the septum, checked; heavy dark make up, checked; messy although stylish red hair; checked, and I’m not getting started in their clothes. They couldn’t be more different than me.

“Oh, so you’re a cute one.” they said, without much of a reaction on their face.

“Excuse me?” I was a bit shocked, not for the first time in that night, and probably not the last.

“You know, the type that gets the good grades and doesn't date, but would have plenty of options if they wanted.” it had to be a joke, so I just dismissed it and followed suit.

“We have light, so now there’s no excuse for you to not start mulling up a plan with me.” I said, ignoring the intimidation that had no right to be creeping up my stomach, and continued walking, to where I still had zero idea.

We continued for two or three minutes, I secretly considering broking some windows to get out as fast as possible. Not that I was uncomfortable any more, after a bit of deliberate consideration I realized that Misha had been nothing but nice up until now and even if they looked the complete opposite of me it didn’t mean they were going to be unpleasant to be around. God knows if it weren’t for them I would be curled in the floor sobbing.

We passed some tables in the main study area of the library, and Misha started talking again.

“Maybe you can call someone. Do you have anyone that lives nearby? A teacher’s number?” it was an awfully good idea, shame I was useless in this situation.

“Don’t live with anyone, I’m here with scholarship.” I shrugged trying to convey how sorry I was in my facial expression, which probably looked like a creature dyeing in pain because Misha rapidly shook their head and said it wasn’t a problem and we would think of something else.

I still felt guilty though, and my shoulders melted with relief when I came with a solution of my own.

“Maybe we can call someone. Maybe there’s a contact card or something in the librarian’s counter, or a sheet of paper on some wall with contact numbers.” I said, full of blind hope.

“Wouldn’t it be the library’s number, though? Wouldn’t it ring the phone inside?” they had a point, I’ve had to admit, and my face fell again “Or maybe there’s some teacher’s contact or something too, we aren’t in any place to choose what to do, so let’s give it a go.” Misha added, and I was beginning to think they were only trying to validate my suggestion rather they had any faith on it.

That didn’t change the fact that we went straight to the librarian’s counter and made as much of a mess as possible looking for some way of contacting someone outside to hopefully be rescued before dawn.

I had found cards of pizza delivery service’s and a bunch of different brochures for pasta restaurant and was starting to get frustrated at myself again when Misha called my attention.

“Hey, can I get some light here? I think I found something.”

They had found something indeed. It was a folder with some students profiles, much like curriculums or the thingies you gave to your teachers when you would start a project for a science fair or something. They were about the current library’s volunteers.

“Oh, thank God, you saved us!” I said, already looking for contact numbers and instead finding e-mail addresses on each profile.

“I guess we can try? There’s bound to be at least one that isn’t sleeping yet, right?” Misha offered, I was was thanking her from the bottom of my heart for being so positive in a situation like this.

“Sure, if we’re lucky enough there’s someone still awake at one in the morning.” I replied, and Misha looked at me with wide open eyes.

“One in the morning? How can it be, you wouldn’t have stayed doing your stuff at pitch dark like this.” they had a point again, and it was annoying that it was true, I shouldn’t have kept writing, but my panicked mind turned it possible.

“Well if it’s any better, I realized it at eleven, and the lights were only turned off at about ten thirty when they closed.”

“It’s still half an hour in the dark.” they were trying to no laugh, I could tell, and I was starting to want to laugh too “I can’t understand your will to finish this essay of yours.”

I shrugged, trying to stop smiling at my ridiculousness and started typing for all the five different students currently working in here.

Hello, sorry to interrupt your nightly endeavors, but I’m Hanna from the English course, and I’m currently locked inside the library. I would appreciate if you could help me get out, by coming here or pointing me a way to unlock the door, if possible.

I understand it’s a bother, and I’m deeply sorry, but I need to be at my class at eight and can’t spend the night here.

Sincerely, Hanna.

“What do you think?” I asked, showing Misha my draft.

“It looks like a bloody apology letter more than a ‘please rescue me’ cry.” they said honestly, and I knew it was true, but I kinda owed it to whomever helped us a big apology and maybe even a fruit basket for thanks.

“Well, it’s not like it’s not my fault anyway, and if someone helps us we’re kinda bothering them at one in the morning, aren’t we?” I know I would be frustrated, even if I wouldn’t show and instead try to be as polite and nice as possible in a situation like this.

“I think you have a point.” Misha scratched at her neck and shrugged “Send it then, to this ones.” they pointed at a note they’ve made while I typed furiously at my phone with all the contacts.

We sent the e-mails and spent maybe ten minutes looking at each other like weirdos, when Misha finally sighed.

“Ok, we’re going to have to wait for a reply anyway, and there’s probably not another way of getting out, so we should at least get comfortable, huh? Like, we’re standing here so long my legs are actually hurting.”

“One would think you would be less tired, having slept the last few hours away.” I joked, but followed them to a reading area close to the more recent books in the library.

“Oh, so you’re not so nice then.” they said, and I could see their smile but felt guilty anyway.

“Sorry, I didn’t intend to be mean.” we sat face to face and I dropped my phone at the floor between us so we could see the same way.

“Relax, princess, I’m just joking.” they raised their hands in the air “And anyway I really did sleep for a while, I was hiding from my last class and thought it would be nice to read something to pass the time. Maybe getting locked is a punishment from the universe.”

“Very funny joke the universe played at us then, me doing late assignments and you ditching school.” conversation seemed easier now somehow, and the awkwardness was hardly there anymore. I was surprisingly comfortable and dare I say enjoying the company somewhat.

Maybe fifteen minutes later my phoned buzzed. Misha looked at me with their eyebrows high on their face and a glint of hope in their eyes. I picked my phone hurriedly and unlocked, reading the notifications like a dying man in the desert finding a well.

Hi, here’s Mathew. No problem about the hour, I was working so apologies for the late answer. There’s a set of keys in the back office close to the bathrooms, the smaller one opens the back door that leads to the patio, as the front one will only allow you to access school and I think it wouldn’t be of much help. Anyway, I hope you get home safe, the gate to the parking lot is always unlocked so you can get out from there ;)

Att, Mathew.

I read the reply to Misha, that was already standing up and passing around waiting for me to join them. We ran to the bathrooms and found the office door, half laughing half panting from our hurried steps.

The keys were fairly easy to find and I was scowling at myself for not have thought of something this obvious, but couldn’t do anything really as we were already leaving anyway.

We ran again like madmen to the gate that lead outside, laughing so much I was already feeling my ribs hurt. We stopped for air at the gate and laughed our relief off our shoulders till we were almost normal looking again.

There was a small silence where we just looked at each other before I felt a sudden urge to talk.

“Turns out you weren’t as much of an asshole as I thought” I said.

“Yeah, you weren’t so awful either” they replied.

We looked at each other again and smiled. And that’s how I met my best friend.