Work Text:
Ann rested in a large maroon armchair with the aroma of printed paper shoved closely to her face, but she was more bored than a dog without a ball. Ann loved to read, but she was trying something new, a romance novel. The book described a tale of a man and a woman (as love stories usually did) running away from their lives in exchange for the ability to be together until death. Boring. Ann nearly fell asleep three different times reading it. But Ann had a rule for herself, “once you start a book, you must finish it.” Therefore, she had to read until the very last, grossly and overly happy page.
She turned over to the very end of the paper-backed novel and wasn’t shocked. The two lovers successfully escaped their lives and were, as most say, “happily ever after.” Ann didn’t think she’d ever trample over her family relationships for a man.
She closed the back of the novel and sighed from somewhere deep in her lungs. Who needs drugs when finishing a book feels so good. She took a few more moments to process the ending, when she heard what was a very loud ding a few feet from her. She looked up, slightly startled, to see the librarian, Jeanie, slid over onto a bell sitting on her desk, because she had dozed off.
Ann brought herself and the book she was reading over to her and slid the novel onto the desk. She lightly tapped Jeanie. Jeanie groaned as she worked to gain back awareness. Jean did seem to realize where she was and what she was doing and jerked her body back up to standing.
“Goodness, I'm sorry Ann. I didn’t mean to fall asleep like that.”
“That’s fine Jeanie, but I still don’t know why you keep on watching me read, it’s awfully queer.”
“Well as you know I can’t read, and maybe it’s silly but I think if I keep on watching you read then I’ll somehow learn to read myself.”
Ann gave a very soft laugh that left a smile on her face for a little too long. She thought Jeanie was plainly silly. Not the kind of silly that’s annoying, but the cute kind.
“I outta be on my way, Jeanie. My sister, Charlie, is coming to visit with her family.”
“That’s alright, I’ll get to see you tomorrow anyways.”
“Bye Ann,” Jeanie said just as Ann swung the library door open to leave.
“B-bye.”
Something about the way– actually the way Jeanie did little things made Ann feel odd, but never in a bad way. From every time Jeanie seemingly unknowingly complemented her to even her doing simple tasks around the library, everything made Ann intrigued in her life. Ann really truly cared about her best friend. It all made sense since they had been friends for just about 15 years.
Jeanie first met Ann at school, but they never talked before Ann started crying in the middle of class. Most of their other classmates judged Ann for it, but Jeanie was the one to ask her what was going on. Ann’s uncle died and then shortly after her mother had killed herself because of the fact that her uncle was a serial killer. They were both very young back then, but Jeanie helped Ann through the ugliest time in her life.
Before she realized it Ann found herself in front of the house she’d been living in for two and a half decades, one of those in which her mother was alive. She could hear joyful and lively pandemonium from outside the front door. Ann cracked the door open and the room filled with people turned to look at her.
“Auntie!!”
Auntie Ann!”
Two children, one four and the other nine, ran towards Ann as fast as they could. They crashed into her and slammed into her legs, making her slightly fall backwards.
Ann smiled and embraced the children back, then they ran off together into the abyss of Ann’s childhood home.
She realized that Charlie’s older daughter was now standing in front of her.
“Nice to see you, Emma.”
“Hi Aunt Ann, would you like to maybe discuss books later on?”
“Of course.” Ann and Emma had a mutual deep love for reading; they’ve read books together ever since Charlie and her sister started fostering Emma when she was 16. That was six years ago now.
Emma also left and went to chat with Ann’s father, and her own grandfather, who was standing next to his best friend, Herbie Hawkins. Hawkins moved in with them shortly after Ann’s mother passed to help her father take care of their younger children and maintain a stable life.
The only person left to greet was Charlie, her sister who was the only other person who yanked her up and out of the deepest trenches in her life. The other person being Jeanie of course. Actually… relating to Jeanie.
Charlie’s eyes met with Ann’s and they both smiled. “Hi Charlie.”
“Oh hi Ann.” Charlie’s eyes swelled with tears as she embraced Ann.
“I’ve missed you so much Charlie,” Ann exclaimed through watery eyes and squished lids.
“I’ve missed you too! You’ve grown up so much since last I’ve seen you. How are you? Any guys you’ve been talking to?”
“Charlie, you know that kind of question is not proper to ask!” Charlie’s husband called from the other room.
“He’s right, I’m sorry Ann. That wasn’t proper of me.”
“It’s alright Charlie. No, I’m not seeing anyone at the moment. And I understand, I know Roger’s engaged right now and everything and it’s quite odd.”
“No, it’s honestly not alright. And it’s not odd, you are in no rush Ann.”
“Thanks Charlie.”
“Of course.”
“I think I’ll go have that book talk with Emma now.”
“She’s really excited for it. It’s all Emma’s been talking about.”
Ann gave a hum of acknowledgement and went to find Emma.
Emma was in the office, as Ann expected.
“Hello Emma, what are you reading?”
“Oh, hi Ann! You startled me! I’m reading this romance book, it’s not very good.” Ann walked over to take a better look.
“I actually just read that book today. What a world! I didn’t think it was very good either.”
“It’s not a realistic depiction of love at all!”
“I actually thought it was a decent depiction, I mean take your mother for example. She stopped her life for your father.”
“That’s technically true, but love isn’t like that. It’s realizing you have a deeper, far more complex feeling for someone than just a friendship.”
Ann paused for quite some moments. So many moments that Emma had to check on her.
“Ann?”
“Oh yes! Yes, sorry. I think you are right, actually thank you for that.”
“Of course, I love talking about these things with you.”
“Can we revisit this? I need to talk to your mother.”
“Sure Ann.”
Ann rushed off to find Charlie, who was talking with her husband, father, and Herbie.
“Charlie!” Ann exclaimed with a worrying tone, making Charlie jump up in surprise and worry.
“What! What is it, Ann!”
“Sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you; I just really need to talk to you.”
“I guess that’s alright, let's head to your room.” Ann rushed up the stairs and Charlie followed calmly. Once they were in the room Charlie closed the door behind her as Ann paced around.
“Now, what is all this Ann?” Charlie questioned worriedly.
“I- I think I love someone.”
“Is he a criminal? Is that why you’re acting like this?”
“It’s-” Ann stuttered.
“Well?”
“I think I love Jeanie.”
“Oh Ann, why didn’t you tell me sooner? I wouldn't have judged, I hope you know.”
“I didn’t know until now, Charlie!”
“Alright, it’s okay, don’t worry.”
“Oh, what do I do Charlie.”
“Tell her.”
“What?”
“Tell her, immediately.”
Ann, again, paused for a long while.
“Okay.”
Ann rushed off and down the stairs, not bothering with a word to anyone. She was out the front door and ran as fast as she possibly could, approaching the library rapidly. Once she found herself at the front door of the library, she swung the doors open, very much out of breath, and simply stood there, staring at Jeanie.
Jeanie met her eyes and smiled in an almost smug way.
“Did you realize?”
For a third time, Ann let moments pass between her and the other.
“Yes.”