Sunlight

Submitted into Contest #91 in response to: Set your story in a library, after hours.... view prompt

175 comments

Contemporary

Down to the earth, down to the little state, Manalis, there sat a library.

 In the day, the library was a warm place. Sunlight peered through the windows, enlighten the laughing children that were listening to a funny story in storytime. The reader would smile at the sight of happiness rising in the air. Small clusters would form into study groups. 

Those study groups were always quiet, but they’d occasionally have a small talk, or perhaps the thud of a book dropping. 

If there was any noise, a shh rose simultaneously from the crowd, and then they’d giggle, ruining the whole point of being quiet.

The librarians were always friendly. They’d make noises too. Since it wasn’t a big library, the usual people came. If there was a new person, they’d be immediately welcomed and would fit into a group just fine. 

When there was no one talking, there just were the soft crinkling pages being turned, or the beep as books were checked out.

There were chairs-comfy chairs, small chairs, big chairs, hard chairs, lounge chairs, any type of chair.  Moms with their children would normally hog the lounge chair area in a playful way. No one fought for a chair. If all the chairs were taken, someone would volunteer to sit on the floor.

If there was rain, everyone nearby would rush on into the library, knowing that they could stay in there for just as long as they wanted, waiting out in the rain, staying dry, and passing by time.

If you weren’t reading, you were talking with a librarian, or a friendly person.  

But when the closed sign hung there, a mood seemed to passover. The library wasn’t open-no small chatting, shushing people and then laughing, or studying in groups. 

When the library was closed, it was a completely different place.

The chairs that were sat in creaked loudly. 

No one was there to shush it and laugh. 

Books would randomly fall off shelves.

No one was there to pick it up.  

Ivys would crawl up the side and attack the building, blocking the moonlight filtering through the windows. 

Rats would sneak through holes in the walls, and nibble on the sides. 

Branches would scratch at the window and cast eerie shadows. 

When the library was closed, darkness would fall.

When books fell off the shelves, they’d flip. 

Flip, flip, flip.

Screech, screech, screech. 

Squeak, squeak, squeak. 

The books, the trees, the rats-all those noises. 

Unshushed. 

Flip.

Screech.

Squeak. 

Unshushed. 

But when the library was open…

Sunlight chased away the shadows. 

Ivys inched back into the shades. 

Books stopped flipping.

Rats retreated back into their homes and left little nibbles. 

Trees edged away from the window. 

Chairs would still themselves and stop creeping. 

The light chased the dark.

But sometimes.

The dark chased the light. 

April 27, 2021 20:36

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175 comments

02:02 May 07, 2021

To the answer to your question milk or cereal first: Bowl. Bowl first. Always and forever, sis ;3

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Oml- Yeshhh- The bowl! Wait... Wb the spoon? The table? THE HOUSE????

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03:26 May 07, 2021

E X A C T L Y In conclusion, people who argue about cereal or milk are stoopid. Us intellectuals know a lot more important things come first. Yaasss 😎✋🏼✋🏼😂

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Oml- Yes ma'am!!! I n t e l l e c t u a l s

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The Manticore
00:34 Jun 06, 2021

🙄 cheese haha.🧀

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Why the eye roll?

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Also I can't find 100+ comments so just spam 100 comment or 90

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Kat Sencen
04:01 Apr 30, 2021

Hi! I loved this story and I thought it was very poetic. Also: I read your bio so here I am! ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆...

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Thank you <3

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15:39 Apr 28, 2021

Welcome back :)

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blxxii i miss you are you back?

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it ended :( but r u bi now :D? also, i'm kind of confused rn bc i dont know what my sexuality is :(

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:((( nooo still thinking awwww same we'll get though it sis

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:) thanks <3

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TJ Squared
19:16 Jun 16, 2021

hey Blxxii! How you doing?

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feeling ded

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TJ Squared
13:46 Jun 28, 2021

oof, I'm sorry to hear that. If there's anything I can do, pls let me know :)

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hehe, it's okay :) yee i'll let you know :D

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TJ Squared
02:42 Jul 03, 2021

:DDD

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13:55 Jun 28, 2021

no wait *cpr*

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*coughs up water* im aliveee :D

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02:09 Jul 03, 2021

*gives food and blankets and a friendly snek to feel better* yay :D

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*nom on food* tank u very muchei

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Maraika!!! 😎
18:52 Jun 15, 2021

AWWWWWW is your profile pick of Nico and Will? I love those two so much!!! They're seriously one of the best couples in the intire series. ❤❤❤❤🥰🥰🥰🥰😍😍😍😍

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yesss! their VERY VERY cute together :3

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Maraika!!! 😎
18:14 Jun 16, 2021

Like sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo CUTTTTEEEEE!!!!!!

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19:42 Jun 14, 2021

BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

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*confusion*?

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15:09 Jun 16, 2021

idk lol I was too lazy to write the whole name “blxxii” but then proceeded to write the first letter a million times so-

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22:13 Jun 07, 2021

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ your bacc!!!! :DD

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I left Reedsy? HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII <333

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23:48 Jun 09, 2021

Ahh right, you didn’t really leave, more of a hiatus lol HIIIIIIIIII

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Aerin told me about you she said your a really good friend

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Aww, thanks to Aerin <3 Are you planning to post stories? And also, do you mind giving a little information on yourself since-erm...Your a tad new?

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Aiden Otaktay
14:47 Jun 02, 2021

☆☆☆☆☆ I read your bio Amazing story I love the intro

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Thank you so much <3

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16:15 May 29, 2021

HALP I’M BORED MAKE ME LESS BORED QUICCCCCCCCC

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UHUHUHU UHURURNREW WHATS THE WEIRDEST THING IN YUOR FRODGE

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18:57 May 31, 2021

UMMMMM HALF A CHARCUTERIE BOARD WITH APRICOT CHEESE LOL (Also, I just posted a new story, so yea if you have free time and if you want to I’d love if you checked it out :D Thanks anyways hehe!)

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OH MY GOSHH-that sounds delicious! (I'll be sure to check it out soon :D)

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23:56 May 31, 2021

WAIT REALLY LOL I HAVEN’T EVEN TOUCHED THE CHEESE I A M A F R A I D - (Tyyyy!)

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WHY HAVEN'T YOU TOUCHED THE CHEESE? WHY'RE YOU AFRIAD??? (Ofc <3)

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11:15 May 23, 2021

I tried but it didn't work. I'm changing it.

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Can you delete this in case? Thank you :)

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17:24 May 14, 2021

weiaugskvwsiujewadujskl the end of this so aksfdjdsa BOOTIFUL <33

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23:20 May 15, 2021

np <33 fancy pfp :')

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Veronica M
00:04 May 12, 2021

Can I include your account in my bio? :)

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Lol yes ofc <3

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Veronica M
00:49 May 12, 2021

Thanks! I just added you. :)

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Veronica M
19:04 May 10, 2021

☆ Read your bio :)

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Tank you+saying hi to your hamster!

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Veronica M
18:31 May 11, 2021

He says hi back :)

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20:37 May 09, 2021

BLXXII! YOU'RE BACK! I'M SO HAPPY! This story is a masterpiece. I've missed you! I took some time off Reedsy and have been sleeping better.

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AYOOOOOOO! Thank you so much <3 I missed you too! Glad to here that you've been getting better sleep, AND took a break :D

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14:58 May 10, 2021

Yes! My sleep is still weird. Dreamed up an alternate ending to Harry aPotter.

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Woahhhhh! That is a weird dream. But, Harry Potter (HP) is a good movie. Did you get to use magic or something??

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13:43 May 12, 2021

No, I was watching it like a movie.

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Veronica M
23:59 May 11, 2021

I am an extreme Potterhead- look at my bio. You'll see. What's the alternate ending? Do you think it would fit into one of the prompts and you could write about it?

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13:44 May 12, 2021

Possibly!

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Veronica M
14:23 May 12, 2021

Yay!!!!!!

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B. W.
00:54 May 09, 2021

So I updated my Bio, could ya take a look and tell me what ya think?

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B. W.
20:26 May 10, 2021

Thanks ^^ tbh I never know what to do with my bio

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If you want an example, look at Aerins XD

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B. W.
04:28 May 12, 2021

Hm, I'll go check hers out soon. Also, do ya wanna hear some Jokes or something?

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