27/08/2050
Dear Diary,
Large, bustling crowds gathered around the town bookstore. Hundreds came from up and down various transport lines linking Hashnorth to the rest of the surrounding Communes.
They had reason to be excited. Today was the anniversary of the release of the hit new novel Ghost In The Pages, and to celebrate, the author was doing a book signing. With how popular it became, no wonder people came here in droves. I found myself among those crowds, and although I wanted my book signed too (who wouldn’t?), that wasn’t why I was really here.
No, I was here to see her.
The author.
Mimi Zillan.
We’d been talking pretty regularly over letters, but we hadn’t actually seen each other physically for a few years while she was working on her book. She’d grown since I last saw her. Not just physically, although I swore she’d definitely gained a few inches in height, but also… like, as a person. I don’t know, is that a silly way to describe it? Probably. Well. Her blond hair was tied back in a messy but pretty bun, though still with that distinctive dark streak, and she was dressed much more… elegantly, than usual? She was wearing this gorgeous pink skirt with a pink waistcoat to match, over a smart shirt, which was so much bolder and brighter than I expected. It looked… really good on her, I have to say.
But that wasn’t what got me. It was her face. She was smiling wide, lips dancing as she chatted with each person going up to her stall. And her eyes… they were sparkling with so much life and joy, the colour in them shining. Nothing like the dull, tired eyes from years ago.
It was beautiful. She was beautiful. She was Mimi.
I was shuffling the book around in my hands as I was waiting in the rapidly dwindling line. Ghost In The Pages, her book, is about a girl in a fantasy land who learns a spell to dive into the pages of books and become part of the stories themselves. As she goes from story to story, though as she does, she learns of a ghost haunting the library she’s in. Through the stories, she becomes friends with the ghost, but eventually they have to part ways as she helps put the spirit to rest. The title’s cool because the ‘ghost in the pages’ is both the girl and the ghost, y’see?
It’s a really good read, especially as her first book. No wonder it became a smash hit.
Although, if you ask me… it’s a bit on the nose. :p
I reached the front of the line eventually, and as she looked up from her desk, her jaw all but dropped. A second later, we were hugging, her reached over her desk as she pulled me in with one arm. Wow, I forgot how strong she was. That woman gives very tight hugs.
…
I missed her, too.
Written by Alyssa A.