A New Poem by Natalia Borodkina

Two hours were left to the next lecture,
and there was no better place to go to than the library. Why not? Even if Elsa was not going to study, at least it was a cosy place to stay at and a place where she could meet someone completely by chance. Is it that difficult to work up the courage? She put her umbrella up and headed for the discoloured building.
When Elsa approached the reading room, she heard a lively discussion. “These are the voices of Alex and Cindy,” she thought. Elsa ran up to the mirror, combed her hair, and entered the hall. Her course mates were sitting at the first desk and giggling. Jared, whose voice she had not heard, was also there.
“Hi, guys!” Elsa said timidly. “Nice to see you here.”
“Oh, hi, Elsa!” Alex replied.
“I heard your voices in the hallway. You’re so loud!”
“Not louder than the police siren. Much ado about nothing,” retorted Alex.
Elsa laughed. “Oh, Alex, I like your sense of humour.”
“Really? I did not know.”
“But you have got to know it.”
“And why are you here?” Cindy intruded. “Let me guess. Are you going to study hard?”
“Actually, I don’t know,” Elsa answered. “I haven’t decided yet.”
“We have been talking here, as you might have understood,” Cindy hissed.
“I’m also very glad to see you, girl. I wish you could imagine how much I’m glad!” Elsa felt relieved after she said this.
“Elsa, you can join us,” Jared suggested. “We’ve been talking about Mr. Gilbert. He is ridiculous, isn’t he?”
“Well, I believe he is sort of original,” Elsa replied. “Alex, can I speak to you for a moment?”
“Yes, sure!”
Elsa and Alex stepped aside.
“Alex, I have written a new poem. Could I send it to you via Facebook? I would like to know what you think about it. It’s quite short.”
“Oh, yes, if you wish so.”
“Yes, this is my wish.”
“By the way, Elsie, I thought you were going to scratch the eyes out of Cindy!”
“I’m sure she’d do the same to me with great satisfaction. But why be so cruel?” Elsa smiled and lowered her eyelids.
“Fine, then you’ll send me your poem.”
“Yes, you may want to be back to your friends.”
“Yeah, and what are you going to do?”
“I think I’ll take some time to study.”
“Great!”
Elsa got some books and a notepad out of her bag and sat down.
“Elsa, we’re going to have a cup of coffee. Why don’t you join us?” Jared answered.
“She’s going to study. Can’t you see?” Cindy objected.
“Yes, Cindy. You’d better stay safe and sound,” Elsie blurted out and winked at Cindy.
Jared shared a bitter look with Elsa, but she pretended she did not notice. Elsa had noticed his glances before during the lectures. He preferred to take a seat not far from her and often turned his head in her direction when she was requested to speak in the class. This ludicrous attention on the part of Jared annoyed her a lot, but she could not say it to his face.
After her coursemates left, Elsa got a little teary and unfolded the notepad where she had written down her new poem:
The angel has lightened my heart,
And sunshine has tended my soul.
I wish that we weren’t apart,
Please, don’t let me freeze at the Pole.