In the dead of night, the rustling sound of paper grazing paper fills the void, showing signs of life in the otherwise slumbering house. A young child, no older than eight or ten, lies awake in the comfortable silence, joined by friends of paper and ink. Concealed ‘neath a nest of blankets, nearly suffocating under the weight, this child turns page after page, with only the light of a small flashlight illuminating the words in front of her. With every line she reads, her friends dance across the pages, taking her hand and whisking her away to places far beyond her wildest dreams. While the day brings bustling chaos with its dawning light, once dusk falls, it carries a blanket of peace, wrapping the girl in a cloak of comfort to wash away the mayhem and frenzy of daylight.
Though this girl is young yet in this world, she has lived far beyond her measly years. She has lived a thousand lives and walked on worlds only found in one’s dreams. With her friends, this child has ruled foreign lands, sailed the deepest seas, and fought many a battle. When reality weighed heavily on the girl’s shoulders, she knew that no matter what happened, she would always have these worlds to fall back on, waiting with their arms spread wide to catch her as she fell.
Even today, late into her teens, she goes back to visit those she called friends, her closest companions, and confidants of childhood. Whenever life becomes too much to bear, and the world seems to reject her and all her flaws, those friends of paper and ink will always be just a page turn away, bringing with them the security and respite of those long-passed nights.
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