Gemotions

The quiet of the library, the scent of old paper and leather, always calmed Arthur. He gestured for his replacement, a young librarian named Bethany, to follow him. He felt a soft ache in his chest.

Arthur showed Bethany the organization system, the Dewey Decimal codes, the ways the library’s systems operated. He took a deep breath, and then told her the history of the library, the stories of the books, and the importance of preserving knowledge.

Bethany struggled to find a particular book. Arthur leaned forward, pointing out the subtle clues on the card catalog. "It's a puzzle," he said with a small smile.