New York University Library Novels & Stories

Hopefully, I have a while. I continue down Eleventh and turn left on University Place, on my way to class at NYU. I blend in easily with the crowd of tourists and shoppers and students, New Yorkers of every size and color and style. I am home here in a way that I have never been in Florida. I love the cold air and the changing leaves, the smell of the vendors’ honey-roasted nuts, the rumble of the subway beneath my feet.

The cafeteria food was always either barely edible, or vomit inducing. New York University's cafeteria was attractive and seemed homey. Several light bulbs, which were built into the ceiling, shined brightly and casted the entire room in a torrent of bright white light. Beige colored cushioned chairs were tucked under round brown wooden tables- four chairs into each table. The tables and chairs were placed strategically and arranged to encompass the entirety of the wide space, leaving enough room for movement around the room.

I focused on the sound of his lungs—the same lungs that had breathed life into me in the safehouse, the same man who was currently my only anchor in a world turned to ash. We finally emerged into the bowels of the New York Public Library—the Milstein Research Stacks. In the daytime, this place was a sanctuary of knowledge. In the blackout, it was a haunted forest. The flashlight in Cassian’s hand was shielded by a red filter, casting a bloody, rhythmic pulse over the endless rows of shelving. Millions of books sat in the dark, their spines like ribs, their contents a silent witness to a history that was being unwritten in real-time.

“She gave balls, galas, parties, charity events, fund-raisers of every stripe. She actually had a heart and a conscience. She was the human face of an otherwise very imposing old firm. She held a gala one year to raise money for a literary charity at the NYPL—” “Holy shit, you worked at the NYPL?” “Fifth Avenue, Main Branch,” he said with barely concealed pride. “With Lenox and Astor?” she asked, naming the two famous lions that guarded the legendary library.

Two girls and a two boys plus me , which makes it five. The sad thing is two of them are from Havard,one is from Columbia University and other one is from Yale, I'm going to look like a small potatoes Infront of them. I'm not saying NYU isn't a top school, it is but compared to Havard or Yale it is small potatoes, no offense. While I was sitting in lobby waiting, I see a boy come to sit next to me also in a grey scrubs with his lap coat on his hand. "hey are you also part of the resident?" he asks and I nod with a smile.

My heart clenched as another memory flashed. Maybe in this city, I can learn to let go and make new memories. After all, the four were easy to be with. Aspyn can be rude and blunt but she's also soft and nice. "Oh come on, we're going out to forget about school..." Aspyn complained. They were talking about showing NYU to me. "Shut up and be nice for once." Jared retorted. I became more curious about the university. We strolled back to the car again and drove to NYU. My mouth went agape when they showed me a giant arc illuminated by lights. We were in Washington Square Park.

During the tour, Austin showed his friend a run down of NYU and the most fascinating places to be like the Washington Square park,where one could go to after a hectic day, it could either be for relaxing or to maybe just read a book or just to enjoy the view before you. He also took Audrey to the Kimmel center which houses all NYU Campus s activities, clubs and organizations, LGBTQ center and also one of the most popular dining halls, the Kimmel marketplace. They both stopped for a Quick meal and continued their tour. He also took Audrey on an infamous trip to the university Library.

POV: Sienna Rhodes The New York Public Library's special collections division closes at six on weekdays, which means I have been here since nine this morning and I have been given nine hours to find what I am looking for, which is either enough or not enough depending on whether what I am looking for wants to be found. I am looking for Helena Moreau Sterling. Not the person. The record of the practice.

I can't just wait in the classroom for that long. My steps came to a halt right in the middle of the corridor. Which way should I go? Ah, damn, I'm not good at remembering the layout. Oh yeah, signs and directions. What a dumbass. Why didn't I notice the signs earlier? Twenty minutes, that's the time I have. Alright, I guess it's enough time to take a look around NYHS's library. I was about to step forward following the directional sign to the library when my arm suddenly felt a pull, and I was shoved against the wall.

Things seemed pretty different when Florence arrived at NYU to work that morning. After five years of working there, she had never seen the students and staff so enthusiastic before, not even when they had celebrities visiting to make speeches or attend classes. Holding her bag close to her side so no one would bump into her, she rushed through the campus to get to the building where the library was located. It was one of her favorite places in the entire world. She quite enjoyed the silence it provided throughout her day. It allowed her to work peacefully, to think and even dream; things she couldn’t do at home with her parents talking all the time.