BEDTIME STORIES FOR ADULTS WITH IPEC WILLIAMSON THE HIDDEN LIGHT Maya arrived at the library just after midnight,
The front door clicking softly behind her.
The rows of books stood like silent sentinels,
Their spines catching the glow of a single desk lamp.
She paused,
Inhaling the cool,
Paper-scented air.
Here,
In this hushed world,
She felt a gentle calm wrap around her shoulders.
As she shelved the last returned paper back,
Something caught her eye,
A dust speck floating in a beam of light,
Swirling slowly before settling onto the page of an open story.
She smiled,
Imagining that tiny mote as a dancer,
Moving to a silent melody.
Beneath her fingers,
The book's cover felt comforting,
An invitation to explore new ideas,
Even when the world outside slept.
Later,
Maya brought a fresh pot of tea to her desk.
The steam curled upward like smoke rings in the air.
She sipped slowly,
Noticing how the warmth spread through her chest.
The click of the clock on the wall became a steady heartbeat,
Guiding her through the night.
Between sips from her tea,
She read a few lines from a favorite poem tucked inside one of the volumes,
Letting the gentle verse remind her of life's lesser-seen miracles.
Around 2 a.
M.
,
A stray cat slipped through the back door.
Padded between the shelves,
It spurred a soft vibration against the wood floor.
Instead of shooing it away,
Maya knelt to stroke its fur.
The cat's gentle rumble grounded her,
Reminding her that companionship can appear in unexpected forms.
She softly scratched behind its ears,
Feeling grateful for this quiet visitor.
Before the sun began to pale the sky,
Maya placed a handwritten note inside a returned novel.
May you find a spark of wonder in these pages.
The next evening,
She found that note tucked into the same book,
Along with a reply.
Thank you for reminding me to see the light.
Her heart lifted at the thought of someone else sharing this quiet magic.
As her shift ended,
Maya paused by the window to watch the first blush of dawn.
The town's street lamps winked off one by one,
And she carried the gentle glow of her night's discoveries with her into the waking world.
Rest now,
And let the simple spark of the hidden light fill you with calm and curiosity.
From my heart to yours,
With all my love and gratitude,
Namaste.
