As I made my way downstairs from the library's second level, the old staircase creaked beneath my steps. The wooden rail felt cool beneath my fingertips, worn smooth by years of use. I wasn't entirely convinced this truck had the long-awaited new books, despite Mrs. Kelly's sudden enthusiasm. The previous delays had left her hopeful too many times before.
Still, curiosity tugged at me. If these really were the new arrivals, it would mean days of work ahead—but also a change of pace, a reason to stay involved in something tangible. I reached the ground floor just as the large metal door by the side dock groaned open.
There, standing at the open rear of the truck, was a man I recognized. A flicker of familiarity sparked as I looked at him more closely. The courier wasn’t a stranger—it was
