CNF: The Book That Brought My Reading Habit Back

I am sitting on dad's favourite couch close to what looks like a library. It's a small corner of a wooden structure with a few well arranged books.

Dad's favourite books are the oldest, they do look old. I had once opened one of his books, excitedly but till this day, I'm yet to read it to the end.

So I'm sitting and relaxing, watching Dad prepare his tools for work. He always likes to clean them before use. I should be helping him but he says I might hurt myself.

Just before dad steps out, by the door, he says, “Find a book to read if you get bored”.

I give a smirk at the sound of it. I know I'll be home alone once he leaves but I have my phone to scroll through reels or see movies when I get bored.

It's way easier and more fun seeing a movie than reading a book of the same story.

The day goes by so fast as I spend most of my time scrolling, sleeping and dancing.

Dad returns with the day's work stories as we have dinner. The stories are funny so he ask me, “So which book did you read today?”

I look at him, he's serious about getting a response but it doesn't make sense that dad is interested in his daughter reading a book today after years have passed.

“Dad, I didn't get bored today”, I say to him, guessing wildly. Maybe he would flare up with anger or lecture me for the next hour.

My dad says in a soft tone, “I still can't believe it, you loved to read a lot when you were a kid”.

I try to say something in my defence but words won't come out, my mind flashes back to a time when I read too many books I started to write mine.

I still love books but today, I walk past bookshops thinking of the cost of a book and I've forgotten the comfort in quiet reading.

2 days later, my friend who has been away for years, visits with a book in his hands. I'm not curious but he stretches the book to me as he is about to leave.

“Read it and tell me all about it”., he says with a tone unlike him.

I know my friend, he gets serious just as much as he loves to joke. I take the book from him, a challenge I will definitely fail, I'll say I try at least.

After staring at the book lying around for what feels like forever, I open the first page to read.

In the moment, I feel a rush of excitement inside of me. Like a magical scroll opening with a light to a magician about to read a spell out, I smiled as I read from start to finish with only quick breaks.

It's been a year now, I am lying down on a bed in my room. I'm turning the next page of a book. I could be sleeping or watching reels on Instagram but I am reading a book.

Some months back, I didn't think I would get past a page of a book again.

Dad comes in quietly and says, “You got your spark back!”
I smiled and continued with my new book.

When I remember to ask, I called my friend to ask how he thought I'd love the book he gave me and he took me back to a time I remember clearly but couldn't believe it.

“It's a book you left behind at Ella's place when you went with that big bag of her books, she said you must have left it behind without realizing it”.

That was over five years ago, my friend found and brought it to me, it's unbelievable that the book is what brought back my love for reading.