The city's biggest library, which was located in the bustling center, presented a truly breathtaking spectacle.
When someone approached the entrance, they would be greeted by majestic statues of famous writers and intellectuals.
They were just a prelude to the wonders that awaited inside.
Stepping into the library, one would immediately be surrounded by towering shelves overflowing with books, both old and new.
Within its halls there were the students, busy in their studies, the atmosphere reverent and serene.
Delphine used to study in that historic library whenever she struggled to concentrate at home.
But this time she was here for another reason.
She made her way towards a corner and placed her backpack next to another student deeply immersed in the translation of an ancient Greek text.
Taking a deep breath, Delphine walked towards the towering shelves, brimming with books of every shape and size.
She was not there to study, she was looking for books about the Post-Soviet Union countries.
As a toddler, she had been adopted by her parents and her past shrouded in an enigmatic veil.
The only connection she had to her birthplace was the knowledge that her orphanage resided in Ukraine.
Determined to unearth fragments of her forgotten past, Delphine thought that the library would be a good place to begin her research.
She hoped that, in that way, she could awaken dormant memories, discover fragments of her identity and trace the footsteps of her past.
Fingertips tracing the rows of books, a mixture of excitement and impatience coursed through her, wondering what knowledge and revelations lay concealed within those pages.
For so long, she had considered the city and country she grew up in as her true home, never feeling the urge to delve into her roots.
Yet, the nightmare of the previous night had left her shaken, yearning for answers.
As her eyes scanned the bookshelves, a sense of unease suddenly overwhelmed her.
Would she uncover the answers she sought? Could read about the recent history of those countries shed light on her identity?
She was aware that many orphans like her had been adopted from Ukraine and other Post-Soviet countries by families residing abroad.
Finally, she found a book detailing the recent history of Ukraine after the fall of the Soviet Union.
With trembling hands, she plucked it from the shelf and settled into her chair.
Page by page, she delved deeper, uncovering stories and insights.
Each turn of the page unveiled the struggles and triumphs of her people.
She hoped that immersing herself in the recent events of her country of origin might bring clarity to her sense of identity.
She didn't know anything about her biological family.
She only knew that her orphanage was in Ukraine, but she was unaware even of the city in which she was born.
Delphine had vague memories of that time in the orphanage, which sometimes felt just like dreams.
It was the first time that she, disturbed by the nightmare, actively tried to reconnect to her roots.
After devouring the book for over half an hour, Delphine closed its pages and made her way to return it.
She peered other books on subjects that fascinated her, losing track of time in the process.
Then, she decided to explore the vast collection of books in the psychology section of the library.
Psychology was one of her main interests and whenever she had some free time she used to borrow a book from the library and read it.
In her mind, there was no better subject than psychology to shed light on the complex experiences she had been encountering lately.
The weight of the last exams bore down on her, causing a level of stress that influenced her days and nights.
Furthermore, a sense of paranoia had crept into her consciousness after hearing that weird noise on her way to school.
And then, there was the nightmare that she had experienced the night before.
It wasn't just a typical nightmare, it resembled more an episode of sleep paralysis.
"Maybe this book can help me right now" she whispered to herself, selecting a volume on dream interpretation.
Returning to her seat, she flipped through its pages, hoping that it would unravel the mysteries of her own dream.
Her concentration was abruptly broken by the buzzing of her phone, indicating a new message from Dorian.
"Where are you?" he inquired.
Delphine swiftly replied "I'm at the library."
Amused, Dorian responded, "Okay, even on a day off from school, wow!" accompanied by a laughing emoji.
Delphine's lips curled into a smile.
She knew him so well that she also knew that he would say that.
When lunchtime arrived, Delphine decided to leave and head home.
She returned the borrowed books to their designated spots, retrieved her backpack and walked through the magnificent library towards the exit.
Whenever she walked down that corridor, she felt as if she had been transported to a parallel world, as if the world outside didn't exist anymore.
Exiting the building, she crossed the garden and walked towards the bus station with a fast step, determined not to miss the next ride.
Upon boarding the bus, Delphine immediately donned her earphones and immersed herself in the vast collection of music on her phone that would be her company during the travel.
Lost in her own world, she reclined in her seat, reflecting on the information that she had just learned at the library.
As the bus traversed from the bustling city center to the serene countryside where her house resided, Delphine marveled at the stark contrast between towering skyscrapers and the lush greenery enveloping her.
With every passing minute, the traffic noise dwindled, granting her a tranquil respite from the cacophony of city life.
However, her peace was short-lived, disrupted by the rumbling of her empty stomach.
The chaos of the day had caused her to forget about eating.
Rummaging through her backpack, she looked for a snack to alleviate her hunger until lunch.
Just as she was about to indulge, something captivated her attention.
"No, it can't be" Delphine murmured in disbelief.
Across the bus, in the seat directly in front of her, she recognized the familiar profile of the guy she had met at the bakery.
He was also the same person who had appeared in her dream the previous night.
Questions swirled in her mind.
What was he doing here? And where was he headed?
Sitting with poise and composure, he occupied his seat in the midday bus.
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow on half of his profile.
His dark hair was neatly styled, revealing his handsome features and captivating blue-grey eyes.
He was dressed in a simple white shirt and black pants, but he always exuded an air of sophistication and elegance, seemingly unaffected by the heat of the day.
His gaze was focused on the passing scenery outside the window.
It felt as if an unspoken connection bound them together, as their eyes met once again...