Yesterday I was coming back from school, it was around 6pm and it was already dark and it was starting to rain.

I’m walking and a seemingly very rushed gentleman stops next to me and he greets me. He looks like he is in a big hurry. He starts walking then stops again and ask, “How do you think I will die??”

And I’m like, “Come again??”

“How do you think I will die??”

I just look at him all confused cause there’s no way he asked me that, right??

So he goes, “You have no idea what I’m talking about, do you??”

I shake my head in response. I’m intrigued by the question but extremely confused cause there’s no way he asked me that. If he did, why did he ask me?? Do I look like I would know how he’s going to die?? Or does he feel like he’s going to die??

He does need to feel that way cause we’re all going to die. What I mean is, does he feel like he’s going to die soon and wants me to help remove the mystery?? I WAS SO CONFUSED!!

Back to the conversation:

“Nora, how did she die??” He asks.

Okay, who’s Nora?? And how the hell am I supposed to know how she died!! Is this a question I’m supposed to have an answer to?! I mean this is the very time talking to this gentleman so I really don’t understand.

So I give him another confused look. “From The Midnight Library. Did you finish the book??”

“Ohhhh!!! **Sigh of relief** I did finish the book… (I then told him the ending of the book)”

“Did you read the book??” I shouted cause he had started walking extremely fast again.

“No!!!” He shouted back.

I was left with so many questions. For starters, I finished reading The Midnight Library a long time ago, I mean I’ve even changed my hairstyle since then. I’ve also read two books after The Midnight Library.

Secondly, I mean I guess I wasn’t hiding the fact that I was reading The Midnight Library cause I took it everywhere as I do with every other book that I read. Thirdly, I don’t know this guy, I mean he’s probably in one of my classes. But why did he wait this long to comment on The Midnight Library.

The conversation was quite weird, I’ll tell you. It’s probably cause it was dark, cold, about to rain, the guy alternated between walking fastly in front of me and then waiting for me to catch up with him so that he could ask me a question and not to mention the fact that he never read the book he wanted to know the ending to. Why would he do that or he’s not planning on reading the book??If he’s not,how does he know Nora, a character from the book and that she is possibly going to die??

Also this is beginning to shatter one of my mantras I repeat to lower anxiety, “Nobody’s watching you. Nobody cares. This is just the spotlight effect in action. I promise you nobody’s watching you.”

He’s not the first person to do this. No, he definitely is the first person to ask that question and the first person I had a weird conversation with. I mean he’s not the first person to see me when I had convinced myself that nobody is watching me and nobody is judging me for reading in the unlikeliest of places. I mean he asked me about The Midnight Library which implies that he saw me reading it and remembered me and the book for over a month.

A lot of people come to me and say, “I saw near the library and I wanted to talk to you. What are the chances of running into you again!!” Or “I was watching you and I couldn’t leave without saying hello.” Or “I’ve been trying to find courage to talk to you for over a week now.”

Anyways, I just wanted to share this weird conversation I had. It was just so funny and bizarre. It stood out to me. I hope I see this gentleman again when he’s not in a hurry and really talk to him.