I sit in front of my computer, still uninspired. I can't think. I stare at the blank document on the screen for too long now. The noise outside doesn't help. But what do you expect when moving to New York? The city never sleeps. I don't have an idea yet and my deadline is in 2 weeks. Ugh, I hate having writer's block. It might be the death of me. I need a change of scenery, to help me think. Looking around the dull apartment, I only see unpacked boxes stacked in the corner of this darkened room.
I get up, grab my backpack, shoving my computer, notebook, pencil case, and water bottle inside, (even though I'm not going to drink my water anyway.) As I'm about to leave with my headphones, keys, and phone in hand, I take one last look around the apartment. Even though I have been here for about a week now, it still looks like I moved my stuff in an hour ago. I shut the door, locking it from the outside, throwing my bag over my shoulder while walking towards the elevator.
I stare at the hallway I walk down, still unable to believe that this is my new home. Unable to call it my home. With grayish carpet covering the floor, the detailed chandelier giving yellow lighting that shines upon everything in its path, four doorways align the walls on each side of the hallway. It was much different from the orphanage I used to live in for most of my life. The elevator door opens, and I'm greeted by George, our door attendant. George was a sweet elderly man who loved greeting people that lived in the building, or even if they were visiting but sometimes, I'll see him working in the elevators talking to anyone he meets. He had gray hair like every other old person.
And was always dressed in his royal blue uniform.
"Hi George," I say, smiling at him. "Oh, hi Ms. Jade it's been a while since I've seen you last. How is that book of yours going?" he says returning the smile. "Not the best. I still can't think of an idea yet, but I'm working on it."
"Oh well, I'm sure you will think of something soon. You never know what might inspire you." The elevator door opens. "Thank you for the kind words, but I have to go now," I say walking out of the elevator. "Have a good day Ms. Jade and good luck with your book."
"Thank you, George." The elevator doors shut. I start walking to the door to leave the building. When I walk through the door, I am met with a cool wind due to the autumn season. It's a bit windy out, but I can still get away with wearing my blue hoodie and beige cargo pants. I put my headphones on and start walking through the streets of New York.
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After 10 minutes of walking, I finally arrived at my destination. I walked to the library that was on the corner of the intersection. The library looks small but, on the inside, it was like you walked into a whole different building. The outside of the building looked older than others nearby, the exterior was made of bricks that were a crimson red, and there was a big window on the left side of the door, which displayed some of the new books that they recently got.
I open the door, unable to wait any longer. The smell of freshly printed paper and ink hits me. I'm now standing on a massive staircase. On the left side, the staircase leads to the lower level, where people normally go to study and work. But the right side was my personal favorite, it led to the upper level where they kept all the books. That's where I would go when I wasn't writing, or at least when I wasn't trying to write something. But today was different, today I must go to the lower level and at least try to write something. Right after I go look at more books upstairs.
I start walking up the staircase, and as it turns around the pillar it circles, I turn with it. I look over the ledge to see people studying and their heads stuck in the knowledge that the books will reveal to them as they continue reading. I finally made it to the upper level.
As I walk deeper into the library, I can't help but smile from the pure joy that washes over me. I'm surrounded by books, and I love it. There are so many. So many I want to read. So many I want to have on my bookshelf just for me to admire them. It's sad that some people will never experience the joy of walking into a bookstore or library. To point out the books you have read like they were a trophy you won. I continued wandering around, walking up and down the aisle filled with books. Admiring the works of art that remain on the shelves. I can't get enough. I checked my phone, looking at the time. It was already 5:50. I already spent 2 hours up here. I didn't even notice! Oh, no, no, no, no. I'm going to be late for dinner. I rush down the stairs, almost falling with each step I take. As soon as I get to the other side of the library's door, I start sprinting back to the apartment.
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I finally got back to the apartment, still out of breath from that marathon, I just ran. (I ran for about 5 minutes, but that's beside the point. For the most part.) I opened the door to the apartment, dropped my backpack off and then made my way over to my neighbors for dinner like every other night. Hannah and I were close. I haven't known her for exceptionally long, but it doesn't feel that way when I'm with her. It feels like I've known her for years and not just a week. She feels like a mother to me, one that I never had growing up. She was very friendly when I first moved into the building. She made dozens of her famous chocolate chip cookies. I haven't had anything like them. They were the best I've ever had if I'm being honest. I knock on the door, waiting for her to open it. She eventually does and I'm welcomed in with her bright smile and a warm hug. "Hey, sorry I'm late, I went to the library again and lost track of time," I say, still a bit out of breath.
"Don't be sorry, you're right on time, let's eat, I just finished making dinner anyway." As I walk in, I can smell the freshly made lasagna on the stove that looks like it just came out of the oven and.... cookies?
"Hannah?"
"Yeah."
"Did you make cookies?"
"Maybe..." She says, giving me the biggest smile I've ever seen.
"Hannah."
"Okay so maybe I did, so what?"
"I told you that you didn't have to anymore, you already have done so much for me, I-"
"Jade, I wanted to, so let me. Please. Plus, they're good!" she says, giving me a warm smile trying to distract me from what I was saying before and the smell of the cookies still in the air wasn't making it any easier to remember. "Fine but promise me you won't make any more." She gives me a funny look.
"In which world do you think I would make that promise to you?"
"Hannah-"
"Okay, okay, fine...I won't make you any more cookies... until tomorrow."
"You're impossible." I sigh, shaking my head.
"The food's getting cold. Let's go eat and forget about the cookies."
She leaves, going to the kitchen to get the lasagna. I go to the table, setting up the plates and glasses that Hannah left out earlier. She comes back into the dining room, holding the lasagna in her left hand and juice in the other. I pull out my chair, take a seat and start pouring us glasses of the freshly bought juice. My stomach growls. I didn't realize how hungry I was until the food was on the table, in front of me. She starts cutting the lasagna into pieces and puts them on the plates for us to eat. I dig in, unable to control myself. (Now that I think about it, I don't think I've eaten anything all day.) Hannah and I continued talking just like we were before.
I was telling her about all the books that the library recently got and some new ones I've found on the shelf. "Oh, that reminds me-" Hannah says getting up from her seat and tucking in her chair. "I read this book recently and I think you would like it." She grabs this navy-blue covered book, with gold writing imprinted on the front. She picks it up off her coffee table and hands it to me. "What's this about?" I ask curious. "It's about how a girl's grandparents recently passed, but while she's cleaning out their house, she finds a diary that was her grandmother's, and she gets to learn more about her."
"What was in the diary she found?" I asked Hannah, intrigued by this book that I will hopefully finish tonight based on what she told me.
"You'll have to read it to find out."
"Fine, but after I read this, we are talking about it."
"Weren't we going to do that already?"
We both start laughing. Whenever Hannah or I would read a book the first thing we do after is tell each other about it. I put the book aside and started helping her bring the dishes to the kitchen. She pulls up her chocolate-like hair and puts it into a ponytail, so it's not in the way as she loads the dishwasher with our dishes. After she's done, she washes her hands and starts packing me more cookies in a container to take back to the apartment. I give her a questioning look, but she doesn't acknowledge it and continues packing them. She hands me the plastic container, smiling at me. "There are your cookies, freshly made from Hannah's oven." She says adding a British accent to her voice. I can't help but laugh. I give her a quick hug, thanking her for the cookies she made for me. I open the door, about to leave. "Bye Hannah, same time tomorrow?"
"Yeah, just don't be late this time," she says giggling a little.
"I said sorry!"
"I know I'm just messing with you. Goodnight Jade. See you tomorrow."
"Goodnight. Thank you for the book."
"No problem. What are you going to do now?"
"Probably read. What about you?"
"I'm probably going to watch a movie."
"Oh nice, well bye."
"Bye"
I walk out of the door, closing it behind me. I start walking back to the apartment with the cookies and book Hannah had gifted me. She was impressive. I'm Thankful to have her by my side. I grab my keys from my sweater pocket, twist the lock open, and walk in. I set the cookies on my desk, opened the container, and ate one of them. I've missed these. (I still have a couple in my pantry. But whatever.) They were still warm from when Hannah first made them.
I grab my backpack, unpack it, and set everything on my desk. I open my laptop, only to close it after looking at the same blank document I was staring at this morning. I get up, walk into my bedroom, and turn on my lamp. I hop into bed with the book Hannah gave me and start reading until I can't anymore. I tried to keep reading but my eyes couldn't stay open anymore. I put the book on my side table, turned off the lamp, about to close my eyes when I heard glass shattering. I sit up in fear, right after, I hear classical music playing faintly from next door. Hannah's apartment. She's watching her movie, I think to myself. The walls in the building are thin, so it wasn't uncommon to hear someone watching a movie or even listening to music. I lay back down, looking at the clock on my bedside table, it's 12:01 am. I get comfortable in my bed and slowly drift off to sleep.