No one really knew how the library came to be. It just appeared one day, nestled between two narrow alleyways, as if it had always been there. The windows were tall and arched, with intricate ironwork that looked like vines twisting around the panes, and the door was painted a deep, inviting shade of blue. There was no sign outside, no name to give it away—just a small brass bell above the door that tinkled softly whenever someone walked in. Alex stumbled upon it by accident. He had been wandering aimlessly after another argument with his girlfriend, the kind where words are thrown like knives, and they all find their mark. He didn’t know where he was going, just that he needed to get away, to find somewhere quiet where he could breathe. That’s when he saw the library, tucked away like a secret, and something about it made him stop. He pushed open the door, and the bell chimed softly above his head. Inside, it smelled of old books and wood polish, the kind of smell that makes you feel ...