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The Library

Goodness it's been a long time since I've written anything. Thank you @flashfictionfridayofficial for inspiring me with this week's prompt. I hope you enjoy the angst!

Warnings: brief mention of fire and explosions, numbness

"No. No, it can't be like this. It shouldn't-" Bella cut off with a silent sob. She sunk to the ground, the now gravel-like main road pressing tiny rocks unnoticed into her knees.

The once proud two storey library was now a mound of rubble that barely reached the top windowsills of nearby houses. Marble, romanesque pillars were tiny hills of white by the front, only their waist high foundations remaining. Charred tapestries were buried under broken bricks. Ash stirred in a gentle breeze. Stray, crumbling, unbound pages rustled, trapped under the wreckage, the only remains of the thousands of books, list in the freak explosion the remaining blaze. Another casualty lost to the chaos of the first few hours of the apocalypse.

Bella still sat, destroyed by grief, in front of the library's ruins. She gave herself two more minutes to mourn and reminisce. She couldn't afford any more, for the boys not to be let down, and for all their safety. The library had stolen hours of loneliness when she was young, silent, and friendless. It has satiated her ever burning curiosity, afternoon afternoon, week after week, month after month. It had given her so much: purpose, peace, companionship. Now it was destroyed, taking her with it. A lone tear traced a clean path down her ashy cheek.

A hand rested on her shoulder. "Come on." Zach's voice was gentle. "It's not safe to stay out in the open."

"Right." The word was hollow. She felt only empty as she rose, aided by Zach's calloused hand. Turning, she left her hopes and their sanctuary broken behind her.