Literature & Love

Strolling through the sunlit park, Olivia readjusted the strap of the laptop bag resting on her shoulder for what felt like the billionth time this morning, reminding her to make a mental note to finally buy herself a new one once she got home.

For once, she had decided to visit somewhere other than a dusty library or her cluttered home office or living room, somewhere far better for her mental health. It took a few days of research and asking acquaintances and friends for somewhere for her to finally turn her mind off and get some words down. It had been a struggle, but certainly worth it.

For weeks, Olivia had been struggling with the worst case of writer's block yet and had finally decided it was time to take action.

With an inward sigh, she thought back to all of the dozens of papers left crumpled in the dustbin back home. Staring at the blank pages and blinking cursors for so long had left her desperate for new scenery and had left her mind feeling heavier with the weight of unwritten words.

The scent of damp grass and blooming flowers brought Olivia's wandering thoughts back to the present. Today, she had thought that taking a walk through the park to her destination would offer her the usual solace, but it was only giving her the usual hay fever. Even the warmth of the sun on her skin failed to give her comfort in her time of need.

The park, which used to be a sanctuary for her thoughts, now felt like a maze of distractions, with children laughing, dogs barking, teenagers blasting their music, and joggers weaving through crowds of pedestrians. Everything felt louder, brighter, and more... well, stressful. But before Olivia could ponder any further, she got smacked, square in the face, by an old football.

"Oh no, I'm so sorry, miss. Are you okay?" A boy no older than twelve rushed over in her direction with an expression of guilt. His friends hover behind him with concern etched onto each of their little faces.

Olivia bent down and picked up the ball before straightening up and handing it back to the boy with a calm expression. "It's okay, no harm done. Just be a little more careful next time. alright?" I manage a gentle smile, hoping to ease his worries.

"I will, sorry again, miss!" The boy moved quickly yet cautiously, taking the ball back as if still expecting Olivia to snap at him, and when she didn't, he gave her an apologetic smile before taking back the ball and running off with his friends to continue their game.

She stood there for a moment longer and rubbed at the mark on her forehead where the ball had made contact. And she thought to herself that, perhaps, the impact was what she needed to get out of the repetitive phase where she had found herself.

She took a last look around the park, taking in the scenery: the parents pushing a stroller, a couple sharing an ice cream cone on a bench as they watched the clouds, a woman walking her poodle, and a father teaching his daughter how to ride a bike. Olivia felt herself involuntarily smiling as she watched these strangers go about their lives, playing out their own stories.

A short breeze rustled at the leaves in the trees above her, sparking inspiration into her veins. Perhaps this is what her novel needed all along, some realism added to the fantasy.

Soon enough, Olivia found herself walking down a bustling street with elegant brownstone houses lining the right side of the road, and she couldn't help but imagine herself living in one of those warm, inviting homes. The thought of curling up with a book and a hot cup of tea by a bay window made her feel hope for the future. However, on the opposite side of the road, large office buildings towered above, seemingly mocking her with their occupants' success.

The stark contrast between the homeliness of the warm brownstones and the imposingness of the cold office buildings fuelled Olivia with a set resolve. With determination in her veins, Olivia took a deep breath and straightened herself before navigating her way through the busy crowds.

"Come and get your silk scarves! Buy one, get two free!" An older woman called out by one of the colourful stalls filled with silk materials, which fluttered lively, vibrant flags. She continued to call out, more than attempting to attract any passerby with a gravelly, singsong voice.

"Ma, it's buy two get one free! Get it right." The younger man next to her corrected her sternly, perhaps her son. His expression was evidently pissed off as he adjusted the items on display.

"Yes, yes. I'm doing my best, boy. Now hand me that scarf before the pretty lady gets away." She retorted with a glare as she placed her hands on her hips.

Before Olivia could even think about her next step, the older woman had seized her by the wrist, pulling her towards the stall, causing Olivia to stumble slightly, caught off guard by the womans' sudden strength.

"Oh, I'm not-" Olivia started to protest, but the older lady cut her off with a wave of her hand.

"Your hair is gorgeous! This limited edition green scarf would be perfect to bring out the colours more." She exclaimed as she held up a rich, emerald-green silk scarf. Olivia gritted her teeth, racking her brain to find a way to get out of this situation.

"I'm sorry, but I really don't have time for this. Thank you, though." She replied sternly, hoping to put up a boundary between them as she pulled her arm out of the woman's grip and took a step back. Her enthusiasm was relentless, but Olivia was able to put some distance between them.

She quickly got out of the way, hearing the woman as she called out to other unsuspecting victims, and her son continuously corrected her mistakes.

The market buzzes around Olivia, vendors shouting their wares, the scent of street food mingling in the cool air. If only she had the time to grab something to eat or a new, beautiful necklace being sold by a lady who looked to be in her early thirties. Unfortunately, Olivia found herself being dragged towards another vendor, this time selling workout gear.

"Hey, hot stuff. You should check out these glute supplements, although you clearly don't need them, sweet cheeks." A sleazy voice calls to her. He leered, gaze lingering inappropriately. "We also do deals on weights and yoga pants - I mean, mats." He finished with a smirk, clearly proud of himself, and Olivia had to hold back from throwing up on his gaudy red trainers.

"Yeah, no thanks, creep. Try that again and I'll be reporting you to the market manager and to the police for sexual harassment." She snapped, her voice icy as she pulled away from him, giving him a glare which could freeze fire before striding off.

The vibrancy of the stalls began to blur as Olivia sped up her pace, eager to put more space between herself and those vultures. The sounds around her had quickly been drowned out by her sheer determination to get to where she needed to be.

Olivia's surroundings started the change; a quiet street appeared with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and freshly baked pastries, which filled the air as if attempting to lure her in. Following her nose, Olivia's drawn to a charming little patisserie with an inviting ambience. She pushed the glass doors open, which triggered a gentle chime of a bell above the door. The cosy interior was adorned with fake flowers in posts, artwork along the walls, and many types of clutter decorating the space.

Approaching the counter, Olivia's eyes darted over the menu as a friendly barista in a soft blue apron approached her with a friendly smile.

"Hi, welcome to Latte Love. What can I get for you today?" She asked cheerfully, putting on the perfect customer service smile.

"Hi, could I get a medium mocha and a strawberry tart, please? They look amazing." Olivia replied, her mouth practically salivated whilst looking at the display of tarts and muffins before reaching into her pocket to grab her purse to pay.

After she completed the transaction and put the purse back away, her phone pinged, signalling an incoming email. With a sigh, she took it out and read the email.

’Hi, Olivia. This is just an informal email. With how wonderfully your last two projects had been received by the public, and with how fast you were able to produce your previous work and release it, the board and I have decided to move the deadline for your first draft to six months from now, instead of eight. We trust that you will be able to deliver, and we are looking forward to seeing what you will bring to the table. Kindest regards, Monica Bailey’

"Rough day?" The barista, whose name tag read 'Cassie', asked sympathetically as she prepared the drink.

"Yeah, something like that. I just received an email from my agent and can already feel a headache coming on." Olivia responded with a sigh, grateful for Cassie's friendly demeanour.

"An agent? Are you an artist?" She inquired with genuine interest.

"I mean, I am in a sense. I'm an author, well, trying to be."

"That's wonderful. I'm an artist myself, being a barista here is my main gig as it pays for most of the bills, but painting is my happy place." She explained.

"That must be demanding. Do you get many commissions here in Greenbrook's?" Olivia asked, glancing over some of the artwork on the wall.

"It can be quite tough at times, unsurprisingly. There aren't many commissions here in the middle of almost nowhere, but occasionally I get orders from locals and even international clients. Greenbrook tends to be a beacon for aspiring authors and artists alike. We even get a few actors and actresses come through sometimes." Cassie replied with wistfulness in her tone as though she was thinking back to previous customers she had served.

She then hands Olivia her order with a free chocolate chip cookie. "Well, good luck out there, girl. I hope you find what you're looking for."

"Thank you. You've definitely earned a regular here from now on. And good luck with your commissions!" Olivia replied sincerely, returning the barista's smile.

Olivia then took her order to a cosy seat by the window and settled in. The first sip of the mocha immediately soothed the stress from her bones, and the strawberry tart was equally as delicious. The sweetness balanced with the bitter half of the coffee, and the sound of the lo-fi music played in the background blended with the gentle clinks of mugs and quiet chatter.

Olivia then took her laptop out of her bag, taking advantage of the brief respite to get some words down onto the page. Soon, the sun's rays shone through, warming the room as her fingers began to type, getting her lost in the world she created. She smiled to herself, starting to feel more at ease as she wrote about the main character and her heart racing as she took hesitant steps into a gothic manor, shadows clinging to the walls, faint whispers calling from deep within.

Forty minutes later, Olivia decided that she had found the right place to leave her story for now. She packed away her laptop and workbook and placed her empty cup and plate neatly on the counter before finding her way back to the street.

Olivia continued her journey to her final destination, determined not to make any more pit stops. With her stomach full and her veins buzzing with caffeine, the day felt infinitely brighter. The warmth of the sun had now warmed her from head to toe, and the tweets of the birds felt like a melody through the air.

She pulled her phone out of her pocket one last time for the directions, and realised that she was just outside the bookstore. She looked up at the inviting façade and the fresh wooden sign above the door, lit with warm bulbs and crafted with vines of ivy around the lettering.

The Whispering Pages.

She had finally arrived at the store, and it was time to put her mind to work.

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Hey guys, author here. This is the first story I'm releasing on Inkitt, and I'm really excited to get some feedback from people! I originally released this story on chapters, which isn't finished there either, and I've gotten some good reviews in return. If you do choose to read this story, please let me know how you're feeling about it! It'll definitely be slow at some points, but I'm not a great writer, and that's okay. We all have to start from somewhere. Anyway, sit back and enjoy Literature and Love, and don't forget to let me know your thoughts!