Alex got to the library at 2:55.
He was supposed to start at three but he liked being early. Mrs. Patel was behind the desk. She looked up and smiled a little. She handed him the cart and reminded him the routine. Reshelve books, wipe tables, check the quiet rooms. Easy stuff. Ten hours a week. Enough to send twenty dollars home every Friday and cover books and things the scholarship didnt pay for.
He pushed the cart into the stacks. Hoodie zipped halfway. The place was quiet, smelled like old paper and coffee. He liked quiet. It let him think.
He started on the third floor. Pulled books off the cart one by one. History, philosophy, some economics text. He slid them into place, checked the call numbers twice. Made sure they were straight.
Around four he was back in the same row when he saw her.
She was still sitting on the floor against the wall. Legs crossed. Sketchpad open on her knees. Hoodie up. Sleeves pushed back. Pencil moving slow now. She had been there for hours. The light from the window had changed. Softer. Later afternoon. She looked like she hadnt moved in all that time.
Alex paused for half a second.
He didnt know her. Didnt know her name. Didnt know anything.
But he saw the way she held the pencil. Like it was keeping her steady.
He kept moving. Put the next book away. Wiped a table nearby. Tried not to look again.
She didnt look up.
He finished the row. Pushed the cart to the next aisle.
When he came back around she was gone.
The spot on the floor was empty. Just a little crease in the carpet where she sat for hours.
He stood there a second longer than he needed to.
Then he went back to work.
He wiped more tables. Straightened chairs. Checked quiet rooms. One guy was asleep with his head on his arms. Alex didnt wake him. Just left the room quiet.
The clock ticked toward five. Then six. Then seven. His stomach growled around 6:30. He ignored it. He had a granola bar in his bag but he saved it for the walk back.
Shift ended at seven.
He clocked out. Walked back to the dorm. Sun was almost gone. Campus was loud with people heading to dinner.
He pulled out his phone. Opened the banking app. Twenty dollars. Sent it home. Text to Maria: First shift done. Love you guys.
Sofia replied fast: Proud of you Alec. Miss you.
He smiled a little.
Miss you too kid.
He put the phone away.
The girl from the stacks stayed in his head a bit.
Not a big thing.
Just a moment.
He kept walking.
Tomorrow was another day.
Classes. Work. Study.
He had to keep going.
He always had to keep going.