Micah let out a low groan, unable to hear any noises in his head other than the nagging to bite another person. His ears pricked at the sound of footsteps from Rachel's shoes.
Rachel sighed loudly as she walked down the hall towards the library. She was getting nowhere with the deans of the departments. She was starting to suspect that they were getting kickbacks or commissions from the textbook manufacturers, and if that was the case, well, she’d just have to expose them for the criminals that they were. She’d just have to do a little research first, and the library was the best place to start. She heard a person groaning weirdly behind her, and she turned around, noticing a guy that had been in her freshman composition class coming towards her. She frowned as he stumbled a bit, still groaning as he seemed to be headed right towards her. She felt the urge to run starting to build within her, but she stayed rooted in place for a moment, trying to figure out what was going on. “Are you okay?” she asked, her frown deepening. He opened his mouth, and he started coming even closer. She shrieked loudly and went running down the hall.
Friday nights at the campus library held a certain amount of anonymity because there were very few people there, and it was the place Rachel felt she could think the best. This school wasn’t going to save itself. Candidates and issues weren’t going to follow themselves, and her grades certainly weren’t going to earn themselves. So to say that Rachel was busy was an understatement, but she found sanctuary in the library. Or at least she thought she had. The beginning strains of a familiar song began and she looked around quickly. The music sounded close, but she saw no one. She just heard: ----Heart beats fastColors and promisesHow to be braveHow can I love when I'm afraid to fallBut watching you stand aloneAll of my doubt, suddenly goes away somehow----
“Hello?” Rachel called out into the otherwise silent section of non-fiction, but she heard and saw no one outside of an ethereal girl in a sweater at a nearby table.
The girl’s attention turned to Rachel and her mouth opened, continuing with its melodious and hypnotic lullaby. She opened her mouth to complain, to remind the girl that this was a library, and things like music and singing were not appreciated, but the words died on her lips. She could only listen, completely enthralled.
----
I have died everyday, waiting for youDarling, don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand yearsI'll love you for a thousand more
----
It was like Rachel couldn’t help but listen. The rest of the world faded away, and it felt like she, herself, was on a stage, a spotlight on her as the girl continued to sing. She was overcome with deep emotions, memories of a relationship she had long ago moved on from. But she felt it all so deeply, that it was practically tangible as the rhythm and lyrics rose inside of her, and she felt tears begin to sting her eyes.
----
And all along I believed, I would find youTime has brought your heart to me, I have loved you for a thousand yearsI'll love you for a thousand more
One step closerOne step closer
----
The girl moved closer, drawing Rachel to herself, and she felt the soles of her loafers practically floating as she eyed the girl’s beautiful face. She reached out to take the girl’s hand, and it felt cold, sending literal shivers through her. The song was meeting its climax, and Rachel felt like she was right there with the girl, sharing one soul, one voice with her as she sang as if her heart was breaking right there before them.
----
I have died everyday, waiting for youDarling, don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand yearsI'll love you for a thousand more
And all along I believed, I would find youTime has brought your heart to me, I have loved you for a thousand yearsI'll love you for a thousand more
----
As the last of the lyrics finished, Rachel’s eyes opened to see that she was all alone, standing on the table, her own voice ringing in her ears as she sang out, tears spilling over her cheek. She glanced around quickly and saw that there was no other girl there, no one sitting anywhere close.
What had even just happened? She wondered. Who had that girl been? Where had she come from? Rachel needed to know. “Excuse me, miss. Would you please refrain from singing and standing on the furniture?” The librarian said harshly, with a disapproving look, startling Rachel out of her reverie. “This is a library, not a karaoke bar.” Cheeks instantly tinging red, Rachel wiped at her eyes quickly, and ducked her head, mumbling an apology as she climbed down from the table. “Won’t happen again,” she promised, waving the older woman off. What the hell had just happened?
