Crisp pages
provide great comfort
to a girl
who would rather
be transferred to another world
than go out and party.
A lonely Friday night
is not something to mourn;
it is an oasis
in the desert of life.

The cover is lifted
to reveal the treasure inside,
except
this treasure
is made of thick, black ink
not gold.
She scans the room
one last time
then plunges,
headfirst,
into the story.

Seemingly brainwashed,
the characters become
her family,
her friends.
Minutes, hours, even days pass.
All too soon,
her eyes reach the end.
Her journey ceases,
sorrow creeps in
with the finality of the story.

But,
she knows
there will always be more
characters,
plots,
and novels
to satisfy
the hunger for adventure.