EXHAUSTION

“Charlie! Wake up! Wake up!” she could hear the muffled voice calling her, tugging her that forced her to open her eyes slowly.

What welcomed her was a huge array of fire. She tried looking for the voice, but no one was there. The place looked unfamiliar and all she could do was stare out at the entire space. The fire is slowly eating up the place.

“Help! Alvah!” she screamed at the top of her lungs. The fire was too big that visibility is impossible. She tried to take a step but her fear took a toll and all she could do was breath heavily. “Help! Please! Help me! Alvah! Alvah!”

Some debris started to fall off the floor and one of them was about to fall right through her. She pulled her arms over her head, thinking she could cover herself from the harm that’s about to come.

And then, she opened her eyes again.

The room has now changed. She’s back in Alvah’s library. She took deep heavy breaths and looked around.

There was no fire. Nothing. The whole place looked as serene as it has always been for her.

“Was I having a nightmare?” she relaxed herself and tried her best to not think about what just happened. “It’s okay. I’m safe. I’m not in any kind of trouble.”

But the scene in the fire kept bugging her the entire day. It was at it’s worst timing knowing that she’s presenting her work today, the mini library is opening its doors for more sponsors and she’s on her fifth wish now. She needs to focus on all these things at once.

She couldn’t stop but wonder how a president could manage an entire country. She took a quick shower from the room that Alvah has given her.

Someone is now renting her apartment. Lance helped her in printing out fliers for the rent and in just two weeks, she found a tenant. They were two best friends who just transferred to the city. Lance volunteered to contact her if ever they need anything. After all, he’s closer to them than she is.

By now, at least she’s settled. She has a roof over her head, and some extra money she’ll get every end of the month. She can focus more on her studies, and she has the mini library to think about.

But the timing is just not that good.

She hasn’t been sleeping very well for the past few days. Must be the reason why she was having that nightmare.

“You seem to be out there.” The deep tone of Mr. Bailey’s voice wakes her. She didn’t even realize she’s already staring blankly at a clear space within the shop.

“How long have you been here Mr. Bailey?”

“Not that long. You worry me sometimes. You haven’t been that alert anymore, these past days.”

“Worry? You’re worried about me?”

“I am allowed to notice everything that’s going on with my students Charlie.”

He stepped inside the shop and surveyed how the books are displayed. He used his fingers to wipe off some dust that she thinks were just imaginary since she has wiped every nook and cranny of that shop. It wasn’t that big unlike Alvah’s that would take her more than a day to clean.

“How are you faring so far?”

“I believe I am doing great. A little exhausted, yes. But definitely doing great.”

“You better get some rest. Whenever you can.””

“I will. Just as soon as tonight is done.” She yawned mid way what she said. She’s exhausted. And the sleep she had was not enough. She had to read through the entire book she’s presenting to the sponsors today. “Mr. Bailey, have you ever had any nightmares?”

He suddenly stood still and slowly turned to her.

“I haven’t had any. Why? Are you having trouble sleeping?”

“Just recently. I was having this really vivid dream of a house being on fire. And I was inside that house. I was surrounded by its fiery flames. Some voice was waking me up but when I opened my eyes, there’s no one there.”

A spark of curiosity started filling Mr. Bailey’s eyes.

“And then what happened?”

“Some debris were falling and the next thing I knew, when I opened my eyes, I’m back to the library where I was reading this book for tonight’s event. It was so strange.”

She could hear Mr. Bailey sigh.

“Did you know that fire in dreams have so many definitions. It may symbolize a nostalgic yearning for a past period in your life, sometimes, contentedness and peace in your life after a period of uncertainty. Or it could symbolize an intense feeling of anger towards someone. But most of all, fire, symbolizes, rebirth. A symbol for rejuvenation.”

“So, my dream could mean anything similar to what you just said, is that right?”

“Possibly.”

“But I am not angry at anyone. I am happy now. Contented. So that must be the reason? I mean, I’ve been struggling for some time. And now, here I am. I am stable. I could possibly finish my work before the graduation. So, I guess it’s just because of the exhaustion. I should really sleep longer.”

Mr. Bailey smirked, “I think you should.”

“Do you always like putting meanings on dreams?”

“No. Not really. Only the once I know are remembered vividly.”

“I actually didn’t have any dreams that were that vivid. Maybe that’s why it’s very memorable.”

“Be careful though. Sometimes, dreams could influence our ability to identify reality from the superficial. You must be quick and smart enough to truly know when it’s no longer realistic. And when it is.”

“Wow. You are filled with all these good quotes today. What did you eat for breakfast?”

“Some bagels.” He said leaving the shop at the same time.

Just in time, Lance came in as Mr. Bailey left.

“Hey.” He smiles and hands a coffee over to Charlie.

She accepts the cup while yawning.

“You really look exhausted.”

“I do. But thanks for the coffee. This will help a lot.”

“I know. Anything you need me to help you with?”

“Don’t you have a job to go to?”

“No, I took the day off. Switched it to another day so I could help you.”

“Well, aren’t you sweet. Thank you!”

She smiled as she sets out the tables and chairs waiting to be arranged for later that night’s event. Mr. Bailey and Alvah managed to help her seek out about a hundred of sponsors that could help her drive the shop’s initiative.

Later that night, she was on a cute blue dress and heels, with her arms wrapped around the book that she has decided to read out for the night’s event.

She prepared drinks and some pastries that everyone could enjoy.

Mr. Bailey stood in front of the crowd that gathered just a few steps from the shop, lumped against each other on the pretty seats that they have arranged for the event.

The guests wore the most convenient yet elegant outfit that they could manage.

Their heels and sandals started clacking against the stone floors that lay in front of the shop.

Soon, they were all focusing their attention to the one person who’s introducing the night’s host.

“Ladies and gentlemen, she’s one of the most promising writer of her generation and one who has the constant desire to influence people through books. Tonight, to help out her good cause, here’s Charlie.”

Charlie meekly smiles and stepped on top of the small podium they have set-up.

She opens a tiny hard bound book and started to read.

“All men have the stars, but they are not the same things for different people.

For some, who are travelers, the stars are guides.

For others they are no more than little lights in the sky.

 For others, who are scholars, they are problems.

For businessman they were wealth.

 But all these stars are silent.

You–you alone–will have the stars as no one else has them–”

“And at night you will look up at the stars.

My star will just be one of the stars, for you.

“In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing.

And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night

And so, you will love to watch all the stars…

You–only you–will have stars that can laugh.

I shall not leave you”

There is sweetness in the laughter of all the stars….and in the memories of those we love.”

 As she closes the book, applauses started to fill the quiet space they all filled. She can even see Alvah clapping, looking so proud of her.

“I wish I’d have her talent.” She hears a whisper. She turns to the woman wearing a red dress standing not too far from her.

“I wish I didn’t come here. This is useless.” Another whisper from a man on her left.

“I wish I can have all these books.”

More and more whisper started to fill her head. She looked around and everyone seemed to be sulking and scowling while looking at her.

“Stop.” She placed her hands against her ears, in an attempt to stop all of the whispers.

“Charlie?” Mr. Bailey approaches her with worry.

“Stop. I can’t... I can’t listen to all of you.”

The crowd began wondering what’s going on. Charlie started to scream.

“Charlie, what’s going on?” Alvah who was now near her started to tap her shoulders.

“Stop!” she screams at the top of her lungs.

Then the whole place turned silent.

Dead silence.

She opened her eyes and looked around her.

To her surprise, nobody was moving. They all looked like mannequins standing still in the middle of the night.

Even the birds who were flying, had stopped mid-air.

“What’s going on.” Mr. Bailey, Alvah, everyone was frozen.

Did she just freeze time?

Then her world starting to drift, everything looked like they were spinning. The next thing she knew, everything went black.