Author's POV....
Welcome to 'Magical Tales Bookstore'.
The bell above the door chimed softly as it opened, its sound almost drowned by the evening rush outside.
The old bookstore stood quietly between modern buildings, its wooden shelves heavy with age, stories stacked upon stories, the air smelling of dust, ink, and something faintly unfamiliar....almost alive.
The bookstore owner looked up from behind the counter and smiled warmly at his customer, who had entered with hurried steps and restless eyes.
"Welcome to the Magical Tales Bookstore," the old man greeted kindly.
The customer barely acknowledged the greeting.
He was a young man in his early twenties, his dark hair slightly disheveled, his jacket half-zipped as if he had rushed here without stopping to catch his breath. His eyes darted from shelf to shelf, scanning titles desperately, fingers brushing over spines without truly seeing them.
The owner observed him quietly for a moment before stepping forward.
"You seem to be in a hurry, young man," the old bookstore owner said gently, his voice calm and patient.
"What are you looking for? Do you need my help?"
The young man turned toward him, relief flickering across his face.
"Yes, sir," he said quickly. "Actually, today is my younger sister's birthday. I want to gift her a novel called 'As Long As You are Here' by Sheng." He hesitated, anxiety tightening his voice.
"It's been getting really popular lately, and I can't find it anywhere. By any chance… do you have this novel?"
Hope shone clearly in his eyes.
The old man's smile deepened.
"Yes, young man," he replied with a small laugh. "The bestseller of this month. I do have it....in the storeroom."
The young man's shoulders visibly relaxed.
"You are lucky," the bookstore owner continued. "I only had one copy left."
The owner turned and disappeared into the narrow doorway leading to the storeroom, his footsteps slow and unhurried, while the young man stood frozen in place, releasing a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
Moments later, the old man returned, holding a single book in his hands.
The cover was elegant, its title embossed delicately:
'As Long As You are Here'.
The young man's eyes lit up.
"I'll take it," he said immediately.
The transaction was quick. The book was carefully wrapped in beautiful paper, tied with a neat ribbon. As he held it in his hands, something warm settled in his chest.
He stepped outside the bookstore, the bell chiming once again behind him.
Just then, his phone vibrated.
"Mom" flashed across the screen.
He answered with a smile.
"What happened, Maelis?" his mother's voice asked from the other side, slightly breathless. "Did you get the gift for Milly?"
"Yes, Mom," Maelis replied, glancing down at the beautifully wrapped novel in his hands. "I got the best present for her. Believe me, she'll definitely love this."
He could already imagine Milly's excitement, her wide smile as she hugged the book close to her chest.
But Maelis never noticed the screeching sound behind him.
Never noticed the car that had lost control.
Never noticed the shadow rushing toward him.
The impact came suddenly.
Pain exploded through his body as he was thrown to the ground, the world spinning violently. His phone slipped from his hand, clattering onto the pavement.
"Maelis? Maelis!" his mother screamed through the phone.
Voices echoed around him. People gathered, shouting, gasping. His ears rang loudly, the sound growing sharper, more unbearable. His vision blurred, colors melting into one another.
The sky above him darkened.
I'm going to die? was the only thought that crossed his mind.
Soon, the sound of sirens pierced the chaos.
An ambulance arrived, paramedics rushing forward. Maelis felt hands lifting him, voices speaking urgently, but none of the words made sense anymore.
Somewhere, someone answered his phone.
"Yes, ma'am," a stranger said, his voice tense. "There's been an accident. Your son....he's been hit by a car. We are taking him to the hospital."
Darkness swallowed Maelis whole.
Slowly, the crowd dispersed. People returned to their routines, though some glanced back with lingering worry for the young boy who had been taken away.
The street became quiet again.
Only one thing remained on the ground.
A gift-wrapped novel.
The paper was torn, stained deeply red as Maelis's blood soaked through it.
Moments later, the old bookstore owner stepped out onto the street.
He bent down and picked up the book gently, almost reverently. Removing the torn wrapping, he watched silently as the blood seeped into the pages....until not a single stain remained, as though the book had absorbed it completely.
The old man smiled softly.
"It's your destiny, my boy," he murmured. "You didn't choose the novel. The novel chose you."
He closed the book.
"You can't run from your destiny," he continued quietly. "I wish you well… and I hope you will change the story."
As he spoke, the old bookstore owner began to fade.
The bookstore behind him vanished next....shelves, walls, signboard, all dissolving into nothingness, as if it had never existed in the first place.
Only silence remained.
And somewhere far away, a story prepared to begin.