The Scream of A Thousand Libraries Chapter 13: Chapter 13: H for Hospital.

Read chapter 13 of The Scream of A Thousand Libraries by Susangja on NovelPedia.

POV: HELENA IVYRA. A strong, throbbing headache made me gradually wake up, as my blurry vision began to clear. Still, I had some difficulty understanding where I was or what was happening around me. It was a calm voice that rescued me from that confused state. "Hey, kid, wake up!" someone said softly, fully awakening me at that instant. I slowly opened my eyes and realized my face was a little drooled. From all indications… I had fallen asleep on the library table, with my head resting on my arms. "Sweetie, are you alright?" the voice repeated. I turned my gaze towards the speaker and immediately recognized her: it was Rose. It had been her voice all along. "I'm fine, Auntie Rose… my head hurts a lot," I murmured, bringing my hand to the painful side of my head. "It's normal, sweetie. You were sleeping out of the sleeptime again. It's 2 PM, and you're here, sleeping… Still having insomnia problems? If so, you should ask your mom to take you to the doctor," she said, with her usual tone of concern. "You know Mom… She always says it's my fault for not being able to sit still and all…" I grumbled, still rubbing my aching head. "Hmph… Oh, your mom's quite stubborn, huh…" Rose sighed, exhausted. "Anyway, look at the time. You'd better go home before the sun gets too hot." "Ohhh, I wanted to stay a little longer… I wanted to read more," I insisted, trying to get a little more time out of the house. "Read? You spent the whole time sleeping, sweetie…" she said, with a slight smile. "Ohhh, I promise I'll stay awake this time. Ughh…" I yawned, feeling a bit weak. "Uh-huh… I know," she replied, skeptical. "Just go home…" As she spoke, she was already tidying my things on the table, putting everything into my backpack. "But, Auntie Ro–" "No buts, sweetie. Just go. It's better for you, that way you can catch up on your sleep," she interrupted, guiding me to the exit. "Ohhh, at least let me take something to read??" I pleaded, trying to squeeze out at least one concession. "Hmph…" she sighed, clearly trying to gather patience. "Alright. Let's make a deal, then. If I recommend a book, do you promise to read the whole thing?" "Absolutely! I love the books you read to me!" I replied, excited by the idea. "Hmm… let's see…" she said, putting her hand to her chin and observing the environment carefully, looking for something appropriate. "Aha! I know!" she suddenly exclaimed, taking a few steps to a niche shelf near the reception desk. "This one! I think you'll like this read. Do you promise to read it all, Helena?" "Absolutely, Auntie Rose!" I said, excited, eager to see what book it was. I took the book in my hands. It was simple, with a cover showing several children running on a beach. The title was curious, enigmatic to me, but, at the same time, captivating. They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but at that moment, I knew that even before opening it, I would love it. After all, it was Auntie Rose's recommendation. "I insist you read this book. It's my favorite! Its name is Captains of the Sands, by Jorge Amado. A beautiful story!" Rose said, with genuine happiness in her eyes. But, before I could answer, my vision suddenly darkened. The pain returned, cruel and pounding, and destroyed that memory like a tide breaking a sandcastle. My vision became confused, blurred, exhausted. Probably, everything was still a reflection of the shock I had suffered in my head… Everything around me became unstable. I only caught brief flashes of consciousness, images that passed before me like loose memories. I saw my mother for an instant. Mrs. Eduarda, with her long, dark blonde hair, already sprinkled with some stubborn white strands, almost as reminders that time, although it hadn't taken away her good humor or her strong identity, had made sure to erase the color of her hair. 'And I hope that's the only thing that fades from her for many years to come… I need her to see me as a physicist someday…' Even so, she was there. She stayed by my side