【novel】

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The book was buried beneath a heavy veil of dust.

I could not say why—yet something within me cried out that I had to look at it.

Trusting that quiet insistence of my heart,

I reached out and brushed the dust away with my hand.

And then, as I narrowed my gaze—

it was that book.

The fairy tale collection.

A shock wrapped itself around me, leaving me motionless.

Why… was this book here?

Why had it been left to gather so much dust?

The one I borrowed—

it was never like this,

never worn beneath such silence and neglect.