THE GHOST IN THE LIBRARY

 

The reporter asked me, "How did you end up choosing law as your career?”. I begin my story; “It all happened back in college when I was in my second year. I was a very timid and naïve student who struggled to advocate for herself and others. A rumor spread in college about a ghost in the library who helps find students their true path. Students found it interesting and often visited the library for advice. On the other hand, that idea petrified me, and I was afraid to even walk by the library door. “Who would be interested in some ghost?”, I often thought and “who would take advice from it?"

 One day I managed to overcome my fear and decided to go and have a look at the library ghost myself. As I entered the door my legs were shaky and my palms sweaty. I saw a ghost behind one bookshelf, a literal ghost wearing white clothes and a face barely visible behind his dense black hair, standing there or more like floating there. My heartbeat went flying as I turned to run, but before I could do that the ghost called out “Wait, don’t leave there is something you ought to know”. “wh-what?” I asked, my voice all shaky. “you’re lost, you are so focused on doing what you think you should be doing, you have a desire locked up in your heart, a desire to speak for yourself and others. A desire to be heard, but u think it's impossible.” it said. “How do u know all this?” I asked. “I am here to guide students like you, so tell me do you wish to fulfill your heart's desire?” it asked.

 It all felt unreal but after giving it a thought I decided to give it a go and listen to it. Days passed and I started visiting the ghost on alternative days and took advice from it. Day by day I was improving, my talking skills improved, I became more interactive with my classmates, I started taking part in college activities and became popular in college. Not only did my speaking skills improve but I also started getting better grades, the ghost's advice helped. But I had one question about the ghost; I wanted to ask how it became a ghost in the first place. But knowing it was a ghost I still feared making him mad.

The last day of college came, therefore the last day of advice from the ghost. As a farewell, it said “Go fulfill your dreams. When I was alive, I made mistakes. I spent my whole life chasing something that didn’t matter, ignoring what truly needed. Now I’m here offering advice I wish someone had given me”. These were the last words I heard from it as I embarked on my journey to my new profound profession as a lawyer.

    

Beenish Rauf ICS (physics) II