The Midnight Library

On a rainy afternoon in Bedford, Bedfordshire, Nora Seed plays chess with her school librarian, Mrs. Elm. Though they sit comfortably in the cozy school library, the omniscient narrator matter-of-factly reveals that all is not so calm: Nora plays this chess game “[n]ineteen years before she decided to die” (1), says the narrator. While Nora plays, she worries about her future. Mrs. Elm tries cheering her up by assessing Nora’s prospects, saying, “But you could be anything you want to be, Nora. Think of all that possibility. It’s exciting” (1). Nora’s concerns include her brother, who left town, and her father’s annoyance that Nora quit swimming despite having a chance to compete professionally. As Nora discusses this last point with Mrs. Elm, her attention momentarily shifts as she sees a blond boy she recognizes running past the library. Mrs. Elm brings up glaciology as a career choice for Nora that would take her away from gloomy, oppressive Bedford but then rushes to answer a phone call. Nora hears Mrs. Elm tell someone on the phone that Nora is in fact at the library. Mrs. Elm then gasps and turns from Nora, with disbelief in her