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?

98 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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  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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  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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  21. I like the idea of being lost and then found. Searching for a way out, but then being offered a map. I feel like we can never truly know our fate, no matter how detailed the map, but I’m anxious to find out how it turns out!Becky

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    • Ah, Becky, you always find the metaphor within the text. Yes, I think as we get older, we realize there is no map to follow. We need to “wing it.” Perhaps we’re more like the birds around us then we realize! 🙂 Or, to add more to the metaphor, maybe as we get to the last volume we find out there is no beginning nor end, just like in the library aisle.

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  24. A lovely, familiar library. And then, the magic. There’s something pleasing about our memories the way they are, though, no matter how inaccurate. It’s tempting to want to know the exact truth about our past. On the other hand, it’s so long and detailed, it might be tedious to read one of the volumes from the past. That’s why our brains pick and choose what to remember. Even if it’s not quite accurate, it must mean something to me or I wouldn’t have saved that memory. As for the future, I’ll just wait and see.

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    • Such a good point. WHO, or what is choosing which memories to include in each volume? I prefer to use the memories stored in my little ‘ole brain and use them as fodder for my stories. 🙂

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    • Thanks, Cindy. the library I enjoy the most has a stained-glass window created by a local artist. It’s beautiful, but not like the ones I created here. And no secret aisle – at least none that I’ve found yet. 🙂

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  29. Oh, I’d choose the one coming up DWP-80-100 (some wishful thinking there). It would be useful to know what’s coming, because the volume is only written in pencil and I believe in rewrites. 😀 A lovely story, Pam. Miss you. Hugs

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    • Hi Diana! A brave soul you are, DWP-80-00. Woozy, I am, thinking about it, but of course in my story I choose the last volume as well. I like the little change you made, deciding that the volume is only written in pencil. So, we’re thinking of rewriting even before the first draft, huh? Sending a warm hug to you.

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  30. Finally, I get here to read how you got lost and found yourself. I love this story. I would go back to the first book to see who I was supposed to be had I not left my body so often that I could remember little about those years. I’ve already written this last one. Working on the perfect ending. Looking for the funny.

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  34. What a beautiful description! 📚✨ Libraries have a special kind of magic, and stained glass windows make them even more enchanting. They create the perfect atmosphere for quiet reflection, inspiration, and getting lost in the pages of a good book.

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    • Libraries give me hope for the continuation of human civilization. May we teach our children how to use them instead of the little phones in their hands, and how to open their minds with amazing stories of fiction and nonfiction. Not to mention the beautiful quiet library setting of knowledge and magic.

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Always a pleasure to read your thoughts.