The next day, Lily hovered outside Fable & Thread, her fingers curled tightly inside the sleeves of her hoodie. The bookstore looked the same as yesterday—dusty windows glowing with amber light, the wooden sign above the door creaking softly in the wind.
She hadn't told herself she was coming here. In fact, she'd walked right past her usual turn home, pretending it was by accident. But she knew better.
All day, in the back of her mind, she'd been thinking about this place. About the cozy warmth she'd glimpsed through the glass, the shelves that seemed to go on forever, the way it had felt like stepping into a secret waiting just for her.
And the man behind the counter.
There had been something about him—calm and unbothered, like he didn't need to try to fit into the world around him. Something Lily wasn't sure she'd ever felt herself.
Taking a breath she didn't realize she was holding, she pushed open the door.
A small bell above it chimed softly, and the warmth hit her like a quiet hug. The air smelled like paper and cinnamon and something older, deeper—like stories that had waited a long time to be heard.
It felt like another world.
The space was small but cozy, with shelves packed tight, some leaning under the weight of too many books. A tall ladder rested along the far wall, and a sleepy-looking gray cat blinked at her from the top of a bookshelf, tail twitching lazily. Rugs were scattered across the creaky floor, mismatched and well-worn. A lamp in the corner flickered faintly beside a velvet armchair.
"Hello there," a voice called gently.
Lily's heart skipped. She turned.
The man from yesterday stood behind the counter, this time looking directly at her. He was maybe early thirties, with dark, slightly messy hair and a beard that looked like he didn't quite care whether it was trimmed or not. His sleeves were rolled up, and his arms were dusted with faint ink stains. His eyes—warm brown—were the kind that made you feel like you could take a breath and not be judged.
"I don't think I've seen you in here before," he said, offering a small smile.
She shook her head. "First time."
"Well, welcome. I'm Nathan. Let me know if you're looking for something… or just exploring."
Lily nodded, unsure of what to say. She moved slowly toward the shelves, pretending to browse, but mostly just taking everything in.
It felt safe here.
She drifted toward a corner where the young adult books lived. She ran her fingers along the spines until one caught her attention—The Night Circus. She pulled it down and flipped through a few pages. Her breath slowed. She didn't realize how tense she'd been until now.
Minutes passed. Maybe more. Eventually, she wandered back toward the counter, drawn by something she couldn't name.
Nathan sat sketching on a scrap of paper, pencil gliding easily across the surface. He was drawing a bird—or maybe a dragon—curled around a cluster of stars.
"You draw," Lily said before she could second-guess herself.
Nathan looked up. For a moment, he seemed surprised. Then he smiled again. "Guilty. Mostly nonsense. Helps me focus."
Lily hesitated. Then, slowly, she slid her backpack off her shoulder and opened it. She pulled out her sketchpad and held it against her chest, protective.
"I do too," she said softly, not offering it just yet.
"That's a rare kind of bravery," Nathan said, not looking at her sketchpad, just her. "Making something from nothing."
Lily didn't reply, but something about his words stuck with her. Maybe it was the way he said it, like he meant it. Like he'd meant what he said about her being welcome.
Nathan didn't press. He just went back to his drawing. The silence between them wasn't awkward. It felt like an invitation—one that didn't demand anything from her.
After a few minutes, she tucked her sketchpad away again and pulled her hoodie sleeves over her hands.
"I should go."
Nathan glanced up. "Of course. But just so you know—you're welcome here. Always. This place has a thing for quiet souls."
Lily nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
Outside, the wind had picked up, scattering leaves along the sidewalk. But Lily barely noticed.
For the first time in a long time, she felt something new growing in the silence between heartbeats.
Hope.