#9

Tonight, my hair is the way I wish it always was

I let it dry hanging down my back after my shower, not caring about the stream of water dripping down the back of my T-shirt

I think I’ll do this more often now.

I’m reading a book that is more relatable than anything I could have imagined

I’ve had very good luck with books this year so far

I finally finished a book I had kept on my shelf for months, last week

And today, in my confusion and frustration and other weird teenage feelings,

I picked up another book

this book had been sitting on my shelf for weeks, I could never fathom finding time to read it

But now I think I’ve figured it out:

You don’t make time for books

If that were how it worked, no one would ever read

See, what really happens is a book sits on the shelf until you need it

Until the title on the spine happens to become your favorite color

Until the book calls your name, or yells at you from across the room

Until your feelings are so much you can’t bear this world any longer so you must join another

Until the book knows that the words it contains are exactly what you need.

I needed the words in this book tonight. I’m not sure I’ve ever read something this fast.

I’m not done with it though. I’m 44 pages in and there’s still so many and I’m so glad,

because this book yelled at me today and told me that I can’t go another day without its pages in my brain and its light in my eyes.

It was right.