I sat behind the counter in the library, bored and unsure of how to occupy myself. An open book lay beside me, but I had no desire to pick it up and finally finish it. The clock’s hand moved slower than ever before.

Generally, I loved my job—I got paid to read books and help others find them. But this was just one of those days. Since childhood, the idea of working as a librarian fascinated me; I loved reading and escaping into fictional worlds away from reality. My younger sister often called me a nerd, but I didn’t mind.

Suddenly, an attractive man approached my counter and, with a nod, left the books he had read. His dark hair and bright blue eyes caught my attention. He gave me a quick smile before turning away.

After he left the library, I began checking the books he had returned as part of my job. In one of the books, I found a folded paper.

Curious, I unfolded it and saw a note: “Although you are very cute when you are bored, I believe that with so many books around, boredom is forbidden.” — Yours, T.

Below, he listed books, detailing why I should read them and what he liked about them. My broad smile was probably visible from the moon.

I chose one of the books he recommended and started reading it. The story was captivating, and I couldn’t put it down.

The next day, I finished the book and wrote my impressions on a piece of paper, then discreetly slipped it to the man whose name started with T. Half an hour later, he approached my counter and left a note with a reply.

Several weeks passed this way; we recommended books to each other and discussed them through little notes. We never spoke to each other, and I still didn’t know his name, but I knew he had a cat, loved historical novels and memoirs, and had a secret passion for fantasy.

I also knew he loved cooking and even the nickname of his school bully, though it was hard to believe that such an attractive man was ever teased.

One day, I was sitting at the counter, writing a reply about a book, when suddenly I saw someone’s shadow over me. I looked up and saw T. smiling broadly at me.

“Hey,” he said, his voice smooth.

“Oh, hey,” I replied, feeling a rush of nerves. “I was just… writing… a reply… not a reply… uh,” I stammered, feeling unusually shy around him. “Sorry, I don’t know what’s gotten into me.”

T. laughed. It was a warm sound that made me relax a bit. “It’s okay,” he said. “I guess you’re writing a reply to my note,” he added with a smile, and I nodded. “I thought maybe we should finally talk in person?” he suggested, placing a hand on his chest and taking a deep breath. “Sorry, I’m nervous too. I haven’t felt this way around a woman in a long time.”

I couldn’t help but smile back at him. “I just wanted to say that I found the ending of this book rather rushed, as if the author got lazy—” I began, but T. interrupted me.

“Would you go on a date with me?” he asked, his eyes sincere.

I felt my cheeks flush. “Y-yes,” I said, my voice trembling a little.

“Great, then tonight at 7:00 p.m. at my place. You’ll see that I wasn’t lying about my culinary skills,” he said with a grin. “I’ll text you.” I just nodded, too flustered to speak. T. started to return to his table but quickly turned back. “I just realized I don’t have your number,” he said, holding out his phone.

“Oh, right, of course,” I said, taking the phone and entering my number, double-checking to make sure it was correct. I handed the phone back to him and realized I had forgotten something. “I still don’t know your name,” I said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“Tom,” he said, extending his hand.

“Olivia,” I replied, shaking his hand.

“Nice to meet you, Olivia,” Tom said, his smile genuine. “Looking forward to our date,” he added and then returned to his table.

I sat back down, my heart pounding. Tonight at 7:00 p.m. I would be at his place. My mind raced with thoughts about what to wear and what we might talk about.

For the rest of the day, I couldn’t focus on anything else. I kept glancing at the clock, counting down the hours until our date.

After work, I hurried home to prepare for the date. I chose my favorite dress, a soft blue one that always made me feel confident. I applied light makeup, just enough to enhance my features without feeling overdone.

My hands shook a little as I called a taxi to the address Tom had given me. With trembling legs, I stepped outside and got into the car.

The ride felt both quick and endless. My mind raced with excitement and nerves. When we arrived at the address, I saw Tom’s house—it was beautiful, a cozy-looking place with flowers in the front yard. I got out of the car and rang the doorbell, my heart pounding.

“Hi,” he said with a smile.

“Hi,” I replied, trying to stay calm.

“Come in,” Tom said, stepping aside. “You look amazing,” he added, his eyes warm.

“Thank you, you too,” I replied, feeling my nerves ease a bit.

“Let’s go to the kitchen. Dinner is ready,” he said.

“Sure,” I said, following him inside.

As soon as I entered, I smelled a pleasant aroma coming from the kitchen. Tom led me there, and I saw a beautifully set table with food that looked very appetizing.

Candles flickered, casting a warm glow over the dishes. The sight made my stomach growl in anticipation.

We sat down and started dinner. We couldn’t focus on the food because we were talking nonstop. Being with him felt so easy. I thought it was a dream.

When we finally finished eating, Tom offered to show me his home library, and of course, I agreed. He led me to a room, and when I saw it, my jaw dropped in awe—books lined the walls, windowsills, and tables, even the floor. The room was a cozy paradise for any book lover.

“Wow, this is incredible,” I said, running my fingers along the spines of the books. “Why do you come to the library if you have so many books?” I asked, curious about his impressive collection.

“I needed a specific book,” he said. “But after seeing you, I started coming every day. I realized I actually had very few books compared to what I could find at the library.” His honesty made me blush.

“Have you read them all?” I asked, looking around at the countless volumes.

“Uh, about 70%,” Tom replied, sounding a bit unsure.

“That’s still a lot,” I said, impressed.

He shrugged. “I’ve loved reading since childhood, to…”

“Escape from reality,” I finished for him.

“Yes,” he agreed, looking at me with surprise and admiration.

I approached a coffee table and saw a hairpin lying there. I picked it up, examining it.

“Probably my sister’s,” he said quickly.

“Oh, I see. My sister loses everything too. I’m surprised she managed to find a fiancé.”

“Do you know him? Maybe he’s the same way,” Tom asked, sounding genuinely interested.

“No, but I’ll meet him in a few days. From what she says, they’re very different,” I replied.

“Are you worried about her?” Tom asked, his tone serious.

“More about him,” I said, and Tom laughed, easing the mood.

“My sister is a very… complex person, but she always gets what she wants.”

“I see,” he said.

I went to one of the shelves and took out a book. “This was my favorite book as a child,” I said, holding it up.

Tom came closer to me, very close. “Mine too,” he said, his eyes locked on mine.

We met each other’s eyes, and Tom leaned in and… we kissed! Finally, I thought.

But after a few seconds, Tom pulled away, looking troubled. “I… I’m sorry… I can’t… this is wrong,” he said, his voice filled with confusion.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, feeling a pang of worry.

“Yes, you’re wonderful. I’m just confused,” he said apologetically, avoiding my gaze.

“Do you want me to leave?” I asked, my heart sinking.

“Less than anything in the world, but I think it’s the right thing to do,” he said, his voice soft.

“Alright,” I said, heading for the door, feeling a wave of anxiety wash over me. Tom’s behavior was really puzzling to me. Had I done something wrong?

I left the house, and Tom followed me, calling a taxi for me.

“I’ll wait with you until the taxi arrives,” Tom said, standing close to me.

“Okay.” I wondered if I should ask him anything, but the words just came out of me. “Did I do or say something wrong?” I asked, needing to understand.

“No, no, God, you’re incredible. But I did something wrong, and I can’t go on like this,” Tom said, his voice filled with regret.

“So, the hairpin wasn’t your sister’s, right?” I asked, the realization hitting me. But Tom didn’t answer.

A minute later, the taxi arrived, and I got into the car, leaving Tom standing there. The confusion and sadness lingered as the car drove away.

A few days had passed since that date with Tom. Afterward, he stopped coming to the library, and we didn’t see each other anymore. I couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened. The confusion and disappointment gnawed at me.

One evening, I went to my sister’s house for dinner to finally meet her fiancé. As soon as I entered, Leah greeted me with a big hug. The rest of the family was already there, chatting and laughing, filling the room with warmth and noise.

“Hi! Finally, you’ll meet him. He’s in the kitchen finishing dinner. He cooks, can you believe it?” Leah said. She led me to the kitchen, and there I saw him. Tom stood there, calmly cooking dinner, not even looking at us. I stood in shock, unable to move.

“Tom, meet my sister Olivia,” Leah said, her voice filled with excitement. Tom seemed to be hit by a bolt of electricity as he looked straight into my eyes.

“Nice to meet you,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Likewise,” he said, his voice barely a whisper.

“I’ll leave you two to chat. But Liv, don’t you dare scare him,” Leah teased and left the kitchen.

“What the…?” I said as soon as we were alone, my mind racing.

“I know, I know, but I can explain everything,” Tom whispered, his eyes pleading.

“Explain what? That you cheated on my sister? With me?!” I whispered back, trying to keep my voice down.

“It’s more complicated than you think,” Tom said, looking desperate.

“Really?! Maybe I should tell her everything so she understands who she’s about to marry,” I said, my anger rising.

“Please, Olivia. It’s very complicated,” Tom repeated, his voice breaking.

“What exactly is complicated, Tom?” I demanded, needing answers.

“I fell in love with you and—” He didn’t have time to finish as Leah walked into the kitchen, her face glowing with happiness.

“I think now is the best time to tell everyone,” she said, her excitement palpable.

“Right now?” Tom asked, looking terrified.

“Yep,” Leah said, pulling him by the hand out of the kitchen.

“Tell them what?” I asked, feeling a knot forming in my stomach.

“Come on, you’ll find out. You’ve always been so impatient,” Leah replied with a wink.

I followed them, my heart pounding. Leah and Tom stood in the middle of the living room, everyone watching them.

“We have great news!” Leah announced, her smile wide. “We’re having a baby!” she exclaimed joyfully, and everyone rushed to congratulate her and Tom.

I felt as if my heart had been ripped from my chest. I ran outside, unable to hold back the tears. The cool evening air hit my face, but it did little to calm me. I stood on the porch, trying to compose myself, taking deep breaths.

After a while, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see Tom approaching, his face full of concern and sadness. He came up to me, looking as troubled as I felt.

“Now you understand why it’s complicated,” Tom said, his eyes filled with sorrow.

“You’re only marrying her because of the baby?” I asked, needing to hear the truth.

Tom nodded. “Leah always gets what she wants, right? We weren’t serious, but then she said she was pregnant, and I had to do the right thing,” he said, his voice heavy with regret.

“Do you love her?” I asked, my heart aching.

Tom remained silent, his expression conflicted.

“Either way, you did the right thing,” I said, trying to be supportive.

“I know, and I never doubted it… until I met you. Now I’m so confused, I don’t know what to do,” Tom admitted, his frustration evident.

“Stay with your fiancée,” I said firmly, though my heart was breaking.

“But I fell in love with you, Olivia. I want to be happy, I want to be with you. Maybe we can work this out somehow. Maybe I can just be a father but not marry Leah,” Tom said, his voice pleading.

“No, the child needs to see his father with his mother, not with his aunt,” I said, my voice trembling with emotion.

“And us? What about us? Don’t we deserve to be happy?” Tom asked, his eyes searching mine for answers.

“We do. But we met at the wrong time,” I said, tears welling up in my eyes.

“Is this the end?” Tom asked, his voice breaking.

“There can’t be an end where there was never even a beginning,” I said softly, feeling a deep sense of loss.

After my words, Tom pulled me close and kissed me. My mind was foggy, but I found the strength to pull away.

“Goodbye, Tom, you were a wonderful experience,” I said, turning to leave so he wouldn’t see how much I was crying over him.

“You were everything,” he said softly after me, but I still heard him. His words echoed in my mind as I walked away, each step heavier than the last. I cried harder than ever before. I had met the perfect person for me, my person, the right person, but at the wrong time.