A routine settled in at this point. Banner would do his work for the day, making the hospital brighter by the day. In that regard, he was a blessing for the hospital and its reputation in the town. In the evenings, he’d browse the library with calloused hands.

He’d read hundreds of children’s stories, all of them displaying some moral or another. When he’d think he’d found a match, he’d bring it to Listeny on her visits to her mother to get confirmation. Every time, he’d have to see the disappointed face of the little girl as she confirmed that the book was not the one, she remembered.

At a certain point he considered that the girl simply had no recollection of it. That he had brought in the correct book, but that she had failed to recognize it. He couldn’t blame her for that fact. After all, it wasn’t as though he remembered much about his childhood… or even of the time before his concussion.

Throughout these many weeks, he’d spend his breakfast and lunch at the diner. Him and Lin had grown accustomed to each other’s presence in the establishment. Lin was especially surprised to find that Banner had taken her advice to heart, each time bringing in a sandwich that was slightly less repulsive than the last one.

She was impressed at how his culinary senses evolved over the weeks. Before, he would probably have either burnt the meat he put on his food, or undercooked it to the point of giving him a stomach ache. Eventually, he learned how to cook it properly. Not 100% of the time, like some sandwich making machine, but enough that Lin wasn’t worried about his health every time he came into the diner with a package.

It helped that Banner had to cook for himself so much. He couldn’t always rely on the diner for food, considering its prices. Banner took pride in his improving skills. Sometimes even Lin would ask for a bite, impressed with his work for the day.

Banner would also familiarize himself with Listeny’s friends, the group of children he’d seen tugging on a grown man’s sleeves to get him to stay. The man in question was someone called Oksifer, who ran a construction company in the area. That explained the scene Banner had seen, owing to the man’s booming business.

Though he heard a few unsavory things about the man from his own children. Kennard, the oldest, wouldn’t speak the kindest of his father. The boy was starting to form a bit of a resentment for his father, something Banner had hoped he could discuss with the man if he ever caught him one day.

But that could wait for another time. The more immediate matter at hand was Listeny’s. And one day, Banner thought he had finally found it.

****

It was much like any other book. Bearing a bright cover that would attract that attention of any child. A star left a trail on the night sky with the words “Baby Born of Stars” written above it. He opened it to reveal the contents, which seemed to match the description given to him by the little girl. He’d have to hold in his squeals of joy after all this time. This celebration of his in the middle of the library led to him knocking over a stack of books he had stationed at his desk. The stack wobbled a bit, almost tipping over before Banner left his seat and steadied it.

Looking over to the reception desk, he saw the man working it give him a glare of annoyance. Banner smiled shyly in return and settled back into his seat, where the book awaited him. He read through it, confirming for himself whether he had found the one he had been looking for.

Stolen novel; please report.

There once was a little star, born in the cosmic soup, she was one of the brightest of her kind.

The star loved nothing more than to go on adventures, riding sun rays to new planets and chasing comets till her heart was content.

.

.

.

And so, the star ended her adventure for the day, bidding farewell to Banaelog and his friends, returning to her mother for the night. Despite the solemn goodbye, she wasn’t sad or unhappy. That’s because she knew that tomorrow would bring a new adventure, and a new group of people to befriend.

Banner found the book joyful. Thought the constant reading of children’s literature had begun to become dull to him, this one was told with such a style that it enraptured him.

He shoved it under one arm and brought it towards the reception.

“I would like to borrow this one.” He left after paying the fees that the receptionist asked of him. He hoped that this time he would be correct. He had been keeping an eye on Listeny’s mother, overhearing her talks with the doctor and they saddened him greatly. He hoped that this way, Listeny would have a few good memories for her to keep in the future.

****

“You seem chipper today, Banner,” Lin poked at him.

“Remember that book I kept trying to locate?”

“The one you asked me about? Sure. Did you actually manage to find it?”

“Yeah.” Banner displayed it in front of her. Lin flipped through a few pages and returned it to him. “Doesn’t seem that special to me.”

“Yes, but I’m sure the family will appreciate it.’’ He put the book down next to his seat and opened up his dinner for that day. Though he had learned to cook a few different things, Banner’s specialty always remained sandwiches. Fowl meat marinated with spices and grilled. A special sauce whose ingredients Banner had had to coerce Lin into telling him. Cheese to bind it all together. Freshly cut greens on top of that. All held between two pieces of toast. Lin rolled her eyes at the extravagance of the meal.

“You understand that I have to deal with customers who ask me to bring them the same food as you?”

“Well, if there’s ever an opening here, then I’d be happy to take over for you.”

“Better you than some people.” That was another thing Banner had learned about Lin in the past few weeks. Though he’d rather not mention it in front of her.

He ate the sandwich happily, with Lin grabbing a few bites for herself along the way. After cleaning his dirty hands, he picked up the book and left the diner, heading on his way to his home. Listeny would be visiting her mother again tomorrow, so it was the perfect opportunity to give her the book.

Who he didn’t expect to run into was Koy. The tanned woman was infrequent with her appearances, and almost never in the same spots, though it was easy to spot her due to her flowing clothes. Banner almost wondered what she did for a living, but decided not to pry.

“You seem to be in a good mood today, Banner. What happened?”

“Oh, you see, there was this book I wanted to find for a little girl, and I think I finally have.” He held up the storybook and showed it to her as proof.

“That’s… it? Just a book?”

“Well, do I need anything more?” Banner replied.

“You don’t. I just expected something more. It’s not altogether a bad thing… Maybe I’ve just grown to become a bit of a cynic is all.”

“Well, you don’t need to be so. You could join me and Lin in our little get togethers, you know.” Banner wanted to extend the offer to her out of kindness, and wanting to get to know the woman better. She seemed sad to be by herself, or at least Banner assumed she did.

Koy didn’t speak for a moment, letting Banner steep in the uncomfortable pause. “No… Sorry, but I’m not interested. Besides,” she looked at him face to face, “Smoking isn’t allowed in there. It would kill me to go without.” Banner laughed awkwardly at the joke, but was interrupted by someone screaming at some construction workers nearby.

“I told you to get the project done by this week! And now look at you!” Banner and Koy decided to break their conversation off there, each going their merry way.