LIFE LOST AT CREST LIBRARY

They said wishes can come true, but they never said a desire so small that it hardly ever comes to mind could come true as well. This was the case for Anesha. She had desired a life, a home that was covered from top to bottom with books, but the desire only came to her when she was in or near a historical and immaculately designed library. Otherwise, it was like this desire never existed. But then why, why in the world did she end up trapped in it? She doesn't remember how she got here, when she got here, or how long she has been here. 

Her memories of her life have slowly been fading away, but she has tried as one might to hold on to them as much as possible. The library, which is now her formal home, is where she has been trapped for more than 6 decades. From what she remembers about 6 or more decades ago, she came here with someone, a group; she couldn’t remember their faces. All she remembers is they weren’t supposed to be there, and then a loud bang came from further into the library. Some time later, Anesha woke, unable to be seen or heard by anyone. In the beginning she remembered most details of what happened, but as time went on she was no more than an entity that didn’t belong. 

This, however, changed when Saim entered the library one day. Anesha swarmed around him like she did with every new library member. Normally people didn’t notice her, so she went one about their clothes, books, and generally how she didn’t approve of them entirely. But this time it was different. Saim seemed different. He wasn’t indifferent, but to Anesha, it seemed like he was tolerating and pretending. She flew away and hid and watched his reaction. Saim covertly looked around before finding a place at the back. 

Anesha had a slay grin on her face. She suspected either Saim could see her or sense her. Either one was good for her because she had someone to talk to or mess up for the first time in forever. She went about disturbing his studies for a few hours before getting frustrated and leaving. Anesha did feel bad, but she needed to make sure she wasn’t just imagining things.  

Saim returned the next day and then every day for the next two weeks. Anesha kept on disturbing him, talking more and more nonsense, but Saim seemed to hold in his anger. At the two-week mark, while Anesha was rambling on as usual, Saim looked up, made sure no one was in his ear shot, and just turned to face Anesha. 

“Can you, for the love of all that is sane, SHUT UP!” His angry whisper caught Anesha off guard, and she stared at him for a few seconds.  

Her face contorted into the most evil grin Saim has ever seen. “I knew it!” The excitement, paired with the evil grin, spoke volumes. “You can see me, and better yet, you can hear me. Thank God. You know how hard it is to just keep babbling on and on and on.” She floated and sat on the table where Saim had his books.

“Now you know, so leave. I have papers I need to research and write,” he told her while massaging his temples.  

“I just wanted to talk,” she whined a bit. 

“Leave!” he said with a slightly more gentle tone.  

Anesha floated away, but Saim wasn’t convinced. He had a feeling she would return. That feeling wasn’t entirely wrong. Anesha left him alone for about a week, going about her own thing and letting Saim do his. It was now a known fact in the library that the table at the back of the library was Saims' spot to work. Other members didn’t come near that part, as it was dusty and not equipped with computers. 

Saim relished in the quite cool area; his work seemed to be coming together—a paper on the modern vs. old libraries. At the third week mark, Saim came to his table to find an old newspaper on his work desk. It had yellowed over the years, and the insects and dust had clearly eaten away on the edges.  

‘LIFE LOST AT CREST LIBRARY’ 

Saim’s eyes widened as he read on. Crest Library was where he was at the moment, but this was the first time he ever heard of a murder. He read the article, whatever was left of it. There was also a half-fading picture of the girl who was murdered. He recognized her immediately; she was the library ghost.  

“You are so late today.” Anesha’s sudden appearance shocked Saim to the point he had actually jumped and fallen over. Anesha smiling gave him her hand to take, but as he did, his hand went right through hers. “You seriously thought that would work; I’m a ghost,” Anesha laughed, floating a little higher. 

“You got murdered here?” He swallowed the tiny fear that was slowly building up.

“How do you think I turned into a ghost? Like one day I just decided, ‘Oh, I want to like the rest of eternity haunting a library.’ Of course I was murdered, or I think I was. It's a bit foggy, ok?” She tried her best to clarify it.  

“But why can I see you?” he inquired. 

“How should I know? I'm just happy I get to talk to someone. Also, I'd really like it if you could figure this out. I’d like to leave this place. I love books; don't get me wrong, but I so need to get out of here.” she explained.

“Why should I? You made my life hell for two weeks,” he countered. 

“Yeah, sorry about that, but I've been stuck here for 6 decades; you’re the first to see or hear me. I had to be sure,” she mentioned desperately. “Just find out what happened. PLEASE!”  

“How would I find anything?”  

“Ask the librarian, look it up on your tiny TVs. Just help me.” 

“Fine. But what do I get in return?”

“What do you need?” 

“All these books are here, but I can't find them; get them for me or show me where they are,” he said, showing her the list in his hands.  

They agreed and went on to their respective tasks. It took Anesha an entire week to find 10 books. Those were some of the oldest, rarest books that were abandoned from the looks of it. When Saim returned that day, he looked dull and down. Anesha had two initial thoughts from the way he looked: he either found no answers or, if he did find answers, they were worse than what she was expecting.  

Anesha floated up to him, but he directed her to the back, to his work desk.  

“I found all the books; I’ll show them to you first. Then you could give the news. I can see from your face you have a lot to tell me,” she guides him to the shelves further back. He took all the books out and placed them at his desk.  

“So,” he started with a heavy sigh, “I know what happened, and I know why I can see you. Apparently 60 years ago you and a group came here to celebrate your graduation and... ” 

Anesha has a sudden burst of memory as Saim continues to explain. 

60 years ago, Anesha with her friends Daniyal, Bano, Rahim, Simra, Yashfa, and Maham came to this library. They were 19 at that point, and all were heading to a different university. They came here because Anesha was dared to break into her favorite library. She had accepted, as she was the only one who had never dared to break a single rule in her entire life. Once in, they looked around, walked the whole library, walked up and down the two floors, and finally settled in one corner. 

“You finally did it, Jan; I’m so proud of you.” Hearing Rahim use ‘Jan’ to address Anesha always made her giggle. They were engaged and would marry after they finish university, and Anesha wanted that more than anything. 

“Stop being so mushy; you two are making us singles a bit jealous,” Bano butted in, making a silly, disgusting face.  

The silly banter went on for a while until Yashfa, who was no longer smiling, scuffed, “Do you really think Rahim will marry you? University is 4 years; what if he found someone else?” 

“He loves me no matter what; he will never betray me,” Anesha fired back calmly.  

Rahim had turned serious just for a second and was about to say something when Daniyal got up and dusted his hands, “Let’s explore a little more; we have what 1-2 more hours before sunrise." Let's look around one more time and head home. Ok guys?” 

“Me, Anesha, and Daniyal can go this way, and Rahim, Simra, and Yushfa can go that way,” Bano pointed out the directions. 

“I’d like to be with Rahim,” Anesha exclaimed. 

“Don’t worry, I won’t steal him from you,” Yushfa countered. 

Bano pulled a beat-red Anesha away, and they explored the library. At some point, Anesha had broken away from Bano and Daniyal and went looking for Rahim. She found him and Yushfa and Simra talking in one corner.

“Could you stop with this?” Rahim exclaimed. 

“She should know you cheated on her with me and with a few other girls.” 

“Oh, so now she’s your friend, Didn’t you say you hated her more than anything? And you willingly betrayed her as well.”  

“At least I’m not marrying her for her parent’s property.” 

This went on all while Anesha watched from afar. Her eyes welled up with tears as all her friends joined in, bringing out all the ways they betrayed them. She had no idea how long that went on, but at one point something had struck her head, and her vision began to blur. When she turned to look, Bano was standing behind her, the librarian's metal trophy piece.  

Bano dropped the trophy piece, and the bang attracted the others. They stood by her as she took her last breaths. None of them called for help. They quietly got out of the library, leaving behind no evidence of them ever being there.

“Bano in this story is my grandmother; she saw the newspaper about your murder and quietly broke down in front of me. She told me they all used you to fund their lives, getting you to pay, and if you told anyone they would lose everything. Your word meant a lot, and they didn’t want to have their reputations ruined. After you died, they still benefited from it. Bano wrote a book about your friendship and how your death affected her. But I also think this is the reason I could see you.” Saim concluded.

Anesha’s face had gone dark. She remembered everything.  

“Did Bano have a good life? And the others?” She asked, her throat closing up as tears spilled down her eyes. 

“Her book sold, but her kids don’t talk to her, including my mother, who is only taking care of her out of duty. Simra had a good life; she was the only one who later on confessed to your parents. Rahim and Yushfa got married, then divorced, so they ended up miserable. Daniyal was bribed by Rahim, Bano, and Yushfa, so he didn’t say anything, but the stress of that took his life.” Saim replied.  

“Good, they deserved to suffer, but I don't wish that for you. You helped me.”

“What will you do now?” 

“I’m a ghost; I know how my friends betrayed me, and I’m content. That means I can leave.” Anesha spoke calmly. 

She floated off further into the darkness and slowly faded away.

**THE END**