The Library’s Secret

/ roughwighting

I love this library for many reasons, but one is the beautiful windows with stained glass art filtering sunlight into magical rays.

Today, I browse the aisles happily while the sun beams prism-like patterns on the books. What do I feel like reading today? Historical fiction, mystery, romance? But weirdly I feel lost suddenly. Which aisle am I meandering in? I don’t recognize this one, and I know the library backwards and forth.

But now, I don’t see a beginning behind me nor an end in front. Or would it be the end of the aisle and the beginning in front?

No matter, fortunately I see a glint of light ahead and race toward the narrow window I never noticed before. A stained-glass portrait of a woman of indeterminate age hangs from the window. She has blondish hair and blue-green eyes that seem to stare at me. She reminds me of someone, but who? I am getting freaked out!

I begin to walk backward, away from the woman in the window but I stop as if I’m a car and someone put on the brakes. I notice most of the aisle is empty of books except for six on one side. The bindings that face me each have my initials and dates on them: PSW 1-10; PSW 10-20, PSW 20-30, PSW 40-60, PSW 60-70 and PSW 70-?

I want to accelerate OUT of this aisle, this library, and probably out of town. But instead, I reach for one of the books. I already know what’s in the first five volumes, so … do I dare?

I dare. The first few pages are familiar to me – but when I get to page 4, I gasp.

Really? REALLY?

I hold on to the book as if my life depends on it.

Perhaps it does.

I’m free to walk away now and easily find the exit for the library. I know exactly what I need to do.

But again, do I dare?

If you entered this secret aisle in your library, which volume with your initials would you choose?

45 thoughts on “The Library’s Secret”

  3. Well, there is a German printing house that signs its books with my initials which are their initials as well KBV. I found that out years ago on the Frankfurt Bookfair.
    I would choose the oldest volume.
    Klausbernd 🙂

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  5. On a university campus, the initials MLB may stand for Modern language Building, but you asked about books within a library: In this context, MLB could be an abbreviation for the Modern Language Bible.

    On another note, I enlarged the visuals: The stained glass is thrilling, but the lovely lady with blondish hair and blue-green eyes may be you!

    Again, cleverly done, Pam. 😀

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    • Oh my dear Marian. The initials would be YOURS, and the volumes all yours also. So, which one do you pick?

      The stained-glass window was fun to create with the help of, gulp, yes, ChatGPT. In my imagination, when each of us individually enters that library aisle, the stained glass would be our portrait. When AI created my stained-glass portrait, it decided to make me a beauty. 🙂

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  6. I love libraries, and this one is certainly magical.

    Our local library moved to a smaller building (police over books, sigh), and they had to get rid of a lot of books or other items. Fortunately, we have a county system, so I can take books from any of the branches.

    I would NOT pick the future volume. Maybe the first one.

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  8. Oh Pam…as always you capture my imagination and make me think of myself in your shoes. What volume would I take? PARH—par for the course phonetically? And would I really want to know what my last quarter or eighth of life will reveal or just live it?

    I think just live it and get ready for the next one…lol!!!!! Thanks for your wonderful imagination!

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    • Knowing you, PARH, you would ignore all of the volumes and turn toward the stained-glass window and laugh. (Thanks for sharing that quote about laughter, the “language of the soul”).

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  9. Oh….what a question, Pam. A secret library…books embossed with my initials. I think I’d be tempted to peek ahead a few years. Grab a volume, hold it, consider it. But you know what? I think I’d delicately re-shelve it. And then caress all the books in order. I also think I’d be crying, thinking about those I’ve lost along the way. What a spectacular story and invitation…all of this. Xo! 💝

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    • “…. delicately re-shelve” the volume of our life. Yes, yes, yes, I think that is the wisest choice. And I love your vision of caressing the volumes – well, now I have tears in my eyes. But we should all be kind to ourselves, our past, and step into the future with love and hope.

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  10. It would be an eye opening and scary library aisle to find, Pamela 🙂 I would pick the first one as I have questions from then. I would hesitate with the current one.

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    • Hi Denise! Oh my, yes, a very unsettling aisle, this would be. I hope to never find it in “real life” and if I did, everyone’s comments encourage me to never pick up that current volume! I’d give you your first volume, if I had the magical power.

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  13. The Plymouth Library, when I was growing up, was a magical place – in an 19th century stone building with pillars and a portico and a row of Linden trees lining the walkway – glorious in the spring. The children’s library was in the basement, with mullioned windows that were halfway below ground and large comfortable leather chairs. I discovered so many books there and loved sitting a reading.

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    • After I read your comment, I closed my eyes and transported myself to that amazing Plymouth Library. Oh, don’t we wish they could all be so imaginatively incredible? No wonder you grew up to be a reader who became a writer!

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Always a pleasure to read your thoughts.