The Paris Library

by Janet Skeslien Charles

“Life’s a brawl. You must fight for what you want.”

“Ma fille, women have a short shelf life.”

I had learned that love was not patient, love was not kind. Love was conditional. The people closest to you could turn their backs on you, saying goodbye for something that seemed like nothing. You could only depend on yourself.

The things I knew for sure grew muddled.

“But seriously, why books. Because no other thing possesses that mystical faculty to make people see with other people’s eyes. The Library is a bridge of books between cultures.”

“What’s a Bibliotheksschutz?” Bitsi asked. “Literally translated, it means ‘Library Protector,’ ” the Directress said. “That’s a good thing, right?” I said. Miss Reeder shook her head sadly. “It’s quite an ironic term. I imagine they’re going to seize our collection.”

As she drifted off, she realized it was true, she’d gotten everything she wanted. She wished she’d known to want more.