#ohthestarter

[allrightalbright-blog]

When Emerson went out she went out by herself. She was used to it, and even preferred it. She often brought a book with her not only because she enjoyed reading but also because it provided her with a shield from the outside world. She tried her best not to engage with people if she could. Yet here she was in one of her normal haunts, the coffee shop, when she felt eyes on her. It was an uncanny gift that she was able to tell when people were staring. She put the book down and sighed. “Can I help you with something?” she said before even turning her head to look at the person. 

[hauntedheroine-blog]

“Looking for anything in particular?” Annabel asked, approaching the library patron with a warm smile.

[gracestaple-blog]

Grace rarely found herself in the bar, preferring to drink in the privacy of her own home. But something about tonight was different. She didn’t trust herself to be alone.

Her hands had started shaking mid afternoon, while treating a young schizophrenic boy who had threatened to kill her. She had stumbled over her words and wrapped up the session quickly with a lump in her throat. She downed a Valium with water, attempting to calm herself, but had been unable to return her heart rate to normal. 

Now she was a few drinks in, and rather than having calmed down she was feeling more anxious than before. Grace was startled by someone behind her, and knocked her tumbler to the floor where it shattered. Closing her eyes, she placed her head in her hands and took a few deep breaths, before turning to face the person who had approached her.

“I’m so sorry, are you alright?”

[evholt]

“This town could use a proper museum,” Evan said absentmindedly to the person beside him. He’d love to curate one if possible, dig up some of the town history. He thought that Tulpa was ripe with possibilities, and most importantly possibilities that kept him far away from his own past. “And I promise I’m not just saying that because my wife is an artist. It could use a historical museum, but I wouldn’t oppose a local art section. You can’t really begrudge visual artists for they themselves add to history too.” As awkward as he could be he was trying to make meaningful connections in Tulpa. He wanted to get to know the people better. 

[honeybeeblake]

Bee noticed one of her patrons admiring one of her favorite pieces that she’d gotten in that week. “I love that one,” she called over from behind the counter. “It’d look really nice on you too.” She tried to be as friendly and encouraging as possible with those that came in looking for quality vintage clothing. A little niceness could go a long way.

[thanayang]

“The kids did Halloween at school today, and as I expected Black Panther was an extremely popular choice.”

[allrightalbright-blog]

“I hate how when some people figure out that I’m a therapist they think I’m psychoanalyzing them or that they can use me as a life advice dispensary or something,” Emerson mused.

[hauntedheroine-blog]

There was many a moment when the library was all but empty, except for Annabel herself. In her own way, she couldn’t help but get a sense of quiet joy from these moments; as her hand trailed along the shelves, touching the spines of books both old and new, until she found something that captured her attention. Whether it was something familiar or not, she would find herself pulling it from the shelf and leafing through its pages, momentarily losing herself in the other world that it offered her.

Even then, there was no sense of sadness or irritation when she was inevitably pulled from this world again, catching sight of another person out of the corner of her eye, and eager to share that experience with them as much as she could. Closing the book in her hands and tucking it under her arm, carrying it with her almost akin to the way a mother would carry her child, as she approached the new patron.

“Good morning,” she greeted them with a warm smile. “I’m Annabel, the librarian. Is there anything I can help you find?”