The days at the library began to pass quickly for Laila. What once felt like a new and unfamiliar place was slowly becoming comfortable. The quiet shelves, the smell of old books, and the soft light through the windows made the library feel almost like a second home.
But there was another reason she began to enjoy coming to work every morning.
Adam.
Just like he had said, he visited the library almost every day. He always chose the same table near the window, where sunlight gently touched the wooden surface. From there, he wrote in his notebook for hours.
Sometimes he looked serious and focused. Other times he stared outside, lost in thought.
And almost every morning, when he arrived, their eyes met.
At first, it was just a polite greeting.
"Good morning," Adam would say.
"Good morning," Laila would reply.
But soon those simple greetings turned into warm smiles.
One afternoon, while Laila was organizing a shelf nearby, Adam closed his notebook and walked toward her.
"Can I ask you something?" he said.
"Of course," Laila replied.
"Why do you always recommend romance novels to readers?" he asked playfully.
Laila laughed.
"Because people love stories about feelings. They want hope."
Adam nodded slowly.
"And do you believe in those stories?" he asked.
Laila hesitated for a moment before answering.
"I think… everyone wants to believe that somewhere out there, someone is meant for them."
Adam watched her quietly for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"You know, that sounds like something a writer would say."
Laila raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe I should start writing too."
"Maybe you should," Adam said. "Good stories often begin with a simple smile."
At that moment, Laila realized something strange.
She had started smiling more since the day she met him.
And somehow… that small change made her days brighter than before.