A story of love and books

Source: Photo taken from my Xiaomi Redmi 9a.

Silence, perhaps the best word to describe that place. A place where the strictly ordered books formed a landscape for the eyes. Yes, I am talking about a library and yes, I know what you are thinking. “What a strange and boring place for a romance story!”
Well, I want you to know that Elena doesn't think the same. Yes, the young librarian of this small place. Instead of being a boring place for her, it is a fascinating place where books came to life and took you on a journey through great stories, without moving from your chair, just with the power of your imagination.
Every day Elena got up and did the same routine. She woke up early, had breakfast and went to open the library. She organized entire shelves, checked the register of borrowed books and watched like a guardian so that the silence in that place was unchangeable.
In the afternoons she was ready to read. She spent a lot of time reading, it was her world, her own world that no one could enter. She was not an ordinary girl who is looking for a prince charming, nor is she the kind of girl who lets herself be smitten by a few boxes of chocolate. She was an ordinary and common girl, yes she was beautiful but her beauty was housed inside her.
With her red glasses, her distinctive golden hair and emerald eyes, she stood out at first glance, but she wasn't someone you really paid much attention to. You're probably wondering, "This is a romance story, isn't it?
Well, where is it? Don't be impatient, it's about to arrive. Because good things always come without expecting them, at the right time and place. That's how it happened in this story.
One day a young man who seemed out of place came through the library door.Elena looked up from her book and laid her eyes on him. He was definitely not handsome, he was a thin boy with dark hair. She saw him approach the counter, he looked everywhere and seemed nervous.
-Welcome, can I help you with something?
-Well...- She took a small notebook out of her pocket with some shyness- I was wondering if these books were here.
-Wow! They are all academic books, yes we have them. Give me some time and I'll bring them to you right away.
-Very well.
Elena walked away from the counter and went to look for those books. She was very surprised, those books were really big. She thought that that strange character was doing research and couldn't find any bibliography digital and has been sent to the library. It is not surprising, the digital world has displaced the physical world, even affecting the books. With all the books arranged in the small cart, she returned to where the boy was and handed them to him, then returned to the counter.
She immersed herself in the pages of her book again. After a while she looked up and saw that boy looking through all those books, he looked really desperate and disoriented. That boy looked up and saw her, he stood up, went to the counter but almost close to the counter he hesitated, which caught him by surprise the girl's voice.
-You are doing scientific research right?
-Well the truth is... -her face at that moment filled with sadness-
It's just that no... I'm here because I need to do my end of year project. I'm at the University and the truth is that I haven't been a good student... I'm late with the work and the professor has given me the last chance if I don't pass I'll be forced to leave the University.
-Wow it's hard.
-Yes... the truth is I don't know where to start with all those books... Could you help me?
-Of course you can.
Those words made the boy happy, they sat down at the table with that large amount of books and got to work. That scene was repeated almost every day.Elena discovered that the name of that nervous boy was José, 23 years old, a year older than our protagonist. He studied Telecommunications Engineering at the University.
The days turned into weeks and the weeks into months. Every afternoon they advanced on their project, they scrutinized each book on that table. Some days they finished early and Elena gave him a tour of the library, passing on the habit of reading to him. They spent hours reading a book and talking about it. Not just about a book, but about their dreams, desires and wishes.
Time passed and a certain message notification on Elena's cell phone took her by surprise. When she read the message she found this.
-José:
"Today I presented the work. I passed! We should celebrate it." In that instant she took her cell phone and after answering, she jumped for joy. That night they went out with their friends and celebrated the great victory.
But time kept passing. Elena and José were no longer friends, they became very close friends of each other and every day after school José spent the afternoon with her in the Library.
José graduation arrived. A day full of joy and happiness for everyone. Elena had fallen in love with José in all that time. She was clear about her feelings for him, but she didn't know if they would be reciprocated. But her doubts would soon be cleared. José took her to dinner one day. Not to an expensive restaurant, but to a simple restaurant located in a central part of the city. With the night as a witness, José simply blurted it out because he had felt the need to do so for a long time.
-I'm in love with you Elena.
So few words were enough to bring joy to both of them. José and Elena had a simple life, she continued as a librarian and he as an engineer working in a car workshop in the city. Building a life together. If you were expecting a story about princesses, handsome young men, girls with extraordinary beauty or an extravagant love like those in novels, you were wrong. Well, you see, love is shown in simple things, it is a seed that needs time to germinate and above all a heart willing to accept others as they are.
I appreciate you reading me; it's about love and books!
I'll be very attentive to the comments.
I'd love to know what you think and thus chart my path in Hive.
Photo: Taken with my Xiaomi Redmi 9a.