An Unexpected Hero

Autumn had just set in on New York; the dark murky streets were filled with brown, red, and yellow leaves. The chill had just set in, making everyone pull their jackets closer around themselves. 1

Kim jogged down the busy streets, cars honked loudly at her and people yelled out their windows. Her gray coat flapped behind her as she dodged the incoming traffic. 2

"Out of the way girl!" She just ignored them; her only target was the library a couple of yards away. Her dark black hair fluttered behind her as she sprinted the last yards before she entered the warmth of the library. 3

"Ah..." she muttered to herself as the warm blast of air shook off the cold from outside. Unwrapping her long gray scarf she clambered up the large stairs leading up to the second floor where she wanted to go.4

Leaping two steps at a time she shoved politely past other people. "Excuse me, pardon me. Oops, my fault!" She said every time she ran into another person. 5

Finally Kim arrived in the section where she wanted, FANTASY SECTION was clearly written on a large white sign. She ambled down the rows, fingers fleeting over other books she have already read, like friends forever hidden inside a book cover. Long fingers slowed down and tapped on one old book's spine. 6

ROWAN TREE by Cary Monre was imprinted on the crimson cover in gold. Kim grinned as she held the old book; it was safely cradled in between her palms.7

"God, do you know how long it took me to find you!?" An annoyed mutter came from her mouth as she spoke to the book. Rolling her eyes at the notion that she was actually talking to a book. Flipping the worn pages open she glanced at the old pictures, one stuck in her mind. 8

An image of a young woman, her long black hair was tied up in high red ribbon. The look of determination shone out of the picture, as if the girl was saying,9

"I can take you on!" Her thin red mouth was set in a straight line, a stubborn chin gave her an unexplainable aura. Kim stared at the woman, she was nothing alike her. Well, besides the fact their hair was the same color, but nothing else. 10

Kim's finger trailed down the picture taking in the grim expression, smiling at the two swords, and grinning at the flattering outfit she wore. "Now this is what it's like to be a woman." Kim thought to herself. 11

Closing her eyes, Kim tried so hard to imagine what it would be like to be this woman. Fighting for her right to live in a world controlled by men, living in a small cottage, exploring the land with only her shadow as company was how she lived. Kim lived nothing like this strong woman.