I sat behind the counter at the library, restless and uninspired. I had always enjoyed my job—being surrounded by books was a dream come true. But today, time seemed to drag.

Suddenly, a handsome man with dark hair and bright blue eyes approached my counter. He left behind a stack of books and gave me a fleeting smile. My day brightened instantly.

As I checked the returned books, I discovered a folded note hidden inside one of them. It read: “Although you are very cute when you are bored, I believe that with so many books around, boredom is forbidden.” — Yours, T. The note included book recommendations and reasons for each choice. I couldn’t help but smile widely.

The next day, I chose one of the recommended books and wrote my thoughts on another note, which I slipped back into his book. For weeks, we exchanged notes filled with book suggestions and personal tidbits. I learned he had a cat, a love for historical novels, and a secret passion for fantasy. His notes brought a sense of excitement to my days.

As the hours ticked by, I prepared for the date, choosing a blue dress and light makeup. My nerves were a whirlwind as I arrived at Tom’s cozy house. He greeted me warmly and led me to a beautifully set table, where we enjoyed a delightful dinner. The conversation flowed effortlessly, making me feel like I was living a dream.

Tom then showed me his home library, which was filled with books from floor to ceiling. I marveled at his collection and we bonded over our shared love for literature. As we chatted, Tom showed me a hairpin and mentioned it might belong to his sister.

Our conversation took a turn when Tom leaned in for a kiss. But moments later, he pulled away, looking troubled. He admitted he was confused and thought it was wrong. Despite my confusion, I left, with Tom calling a taxi for me.

A few days later, I went to my sister Leah’s house for dinner to meet her fiancé. To my shock, Tom was there, cooking in the kitchen. Leah introduced us, and Tom and I exchanged troubled glances.

Tom pulled me aside and admitted he was engaged to Leah because she was pregnant. He confessed he had fallen in love with me, which complicated things further. Despite his feelings for me, he needed to stay with Leah for the baby’s sake.

I was heartbroken but told him he needed to stay with his fiancée. We shared a final kiss, and I walked away, feeling the weight of our untimely connection. The perfect person had appeared at the wrong time, and the pain of our separation was almost too much to bear.

As I left, Tom’s words echoed in my mind, and I cried for the love we had shared, albeit briefly. It was a beautiful but bittersweet reminder of the complexities of life and love.