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Chapter Twenty Six

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Snow was falling softly onto brick paved roads. It wasn’t cold though. The sinking sun’s rays reflected off the icy white crystals. Akila paused and blinked until the world returned to being something other than a searing white glow.

She glanced down the road to her left. A group of Akila’s female classmates was jumping rope. They kept getting hit by the rope at which point the girls would exaggeratedly flop into the snow and then start giggling.

One of the girls looked up, her eyes meeting Akila’s, who hastily walked in the opposite direction.

“Hey Akila!” someone had shouted. Akila paused and turned around. It was... Akila realized she didn’t even know her name. “You wanna play with us?”

Akila was a bit shocked at the offer. “Such a waste of time. There are so many better things to do,” she muttered. Then, louder, she replied “No thanks, I’m going to the... library.” Libraries were good, so much more educational than this.

The girl seemed crestfallen, her head bending forward, her golden curls falling over her cheeks and obscuring the rims of a pair of round glasses. “Okay,” she said softly.

Akila spun and resumed her march towards what appeared to be the center of town.

It didn’t take much work to determine the location of the library. Large ornately carved letters spelled it out near the top of an imposing black building with marble columns.

Akila climbed the stairs and pushed open the heavy oaken doors. Blindness engulfed her as her eyes adapted to the mellower light of the library. Akila paused and inhaled deeply, absorbing the scent of the countless ancient tomes that filled the walls of the hallowed building. And it was hallowed, for Akila. If there was a heaven, then this was surely it. Infinite time to pour over infinite books. Akila smiled at the thought, and drank in her now visible surroundings.

“Today,” she whispered as she gazed at a map of the building. “Science. Neurology.” Akila smiled again, a destination gave her meaning, a reason for... for what? Akila didn’t know, and she didn’t like to dwell on conundrums. It was a reason, and for now that was all that mattered.

As she walked, Akila traced her fingers over the bindings of the shelved books. She recalled the expression ‘Learning by Osmosis’. It was impossible, of course, she chided herself. But still, these pieces of paper contained knowledge. And that was what she wanted, wasn’t it?

Akila pushed the questions from her mind as she entered the neurology section. It stretched across shelved filled with books of myriad sizes. Akila took a few steps backward to be able to take it all in, when a book from another section caught her eye. “Evolutionism,” breathed Akila. She walked over towards it’s location on one of the higher shelves. It was out of reach. “Damn,” muttered Akila. She jumped for it, again and again, each time her fingers grazing it, but unable to latch on enough to pull it down.

An obese middle aged man paused at the end of the aisle to watch the rather bemusing spectacle of a small girl jumping for a book that appeared to weigh as much as she did.

Akila could feel his eyes on her, “Instead of standing there staring, do you think you could get this down for me?”

The man laughed and walked over. He patted Akila on the head. You’re a feisty one, aren’t you?” He turned to the book she had been trying to get down. “I think this book about ehve- elvo- eevootian- er,” the man paused. “I think this book might be hard for you and there’s some books you might like better over there,” he said, pointing.

“No thank you, I can read fine. Unlike you, evidentially. The word is ‘evolutionism’! This is what I would like to read.”

“Aww, c’mon girly, I know you’ll love these.” The man grabbed Akila’s hand and dragged her down the aisle in the direction he’d been pointing.

“Where are you taking me?” Akila spat out.

The man just smiled but Akila’s question was soon answered anyway. She found herself in from a shelf filled with pink covered books. Akila glanced at the title of one: “The Adventures of Princess Meryl.” An expression of disgust crossed her face. “You took me to the children’s section!?” she roared.

The man was already walking away. He waved and said “See? I knew you’d have fun. Akila was fuming. The man then turned to a librarian shelving books. “Miss? Can you tell me where the self help section is?”

“You dumb ass!” screamed Akila. “That defeats the point!” She stormed out of the library.

A shocked silence filled the areas her voice had carried to, which was essentially the entire building. Then a soft voice emerged “Go down that aisle and then turn right...”

Akila stood on the slush covered front stairs of the library, her body shaking in rage. “So,” she whispered, her eyes sweeping the town. “What now?” Although Gareth had just been acting like his usual self, i.e. an ass, maybe he had a point. She could go jump rope with those girls. It would be fun- it would be a good study in how stupid people waste their time.

Akila stepped carefully down the stairs and into the road, heading back the way she had come.

The jump roping girls came into sight once again. The golden haired girl waved. “Akila! You wanna play now?” The girl’s smile was an honest one.

Akila was about to nod when another girl spoke. Dark red hair fell in loose waved to the middle of her back. She flipped it as she opened her mouth. “Come on Meg. It’s Akila,” she scoffed. “Do you rally think little miss perfect I’m so smart would want to play with us? We ain’t good enough for her,” the girl sneered, hazel eyes flashing. She turned to Akila and cocked her head to the side. “Well, guess what, we don’t need you. Or even want you.” A triumphant grin spread maliciously across her face.

“ ‘Ain’t’ isn’t a word,” said Akila softly. She turned away from them and walked inside.