From the time I first could hold things in my hands, after that more often than not, those things were books. Colorful, bright, shiny books that invited me to jump into their worlds and never look back again. As I grew older, my tastes shifted from exploring the whimsical delights of Dr. Seuss to analyzing the institutions of racism present in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird or sailing aboard the Pequod with Captain Ahab in Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. My room quickly evolved into a library, where piles upon piles of books lay, pages crinkled and starting to yellow. Every corner of my gray room boasted stacks of novels, almost as if in a race to see which corner could first reach the ceiling. Characters became my friends, and authors, worthy idols: I grew up dreaming of the future stories I would tell and share with other book-lovers. I simply could not wait to inspire and encourage others to write, to express, and to dream.
Fast-forward a handful of years, when I stand in Westminster Abbey taking in the massively impressive structure and undeniable beauty of this historical building. I readily embrace the intense crowd of people, all shuffling through the stunning church and talking in hushed whispers so as not to disturb the sanctity of the Abbey. I manage to escape a cluster of people and stand off to the side, allowing myself a moment’s breath. Looking around at all the visitors taking mental pictures to cherish the magnificence of the church sends shivers down my spine, completely embracing the power of such an awe-inspiring attraction. A handful of minutes pass before I realize, I am standing on the grave of Charles Dickens. Charles Dickens, author of Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol, and my personal favorite, A Tale of Two Cities, buried right beneath my feet. I instantly recall the hundreds of pages I once flipped, simply unable to believe that the Charles Dickens lay right underneath me. Charles Dickens no longer represented some long forgotten author, who’s novels no longer seemed relevant. He was right there! This was the moment where everything became real.
-Allie Fischer