The Bookstore of Futures

On a rainy afternoon, Emma ducked into a tiny bookstore she’d never seen before.

Inside, the air smelled of paper and old secrets. Books lined the

shelves from floor to ceiling, each with shimmering titles that seemed to change when she

blinked. At the counter stood an old man with silver glasses. “Every book here

chooses its reader,” he said softly. Emma picked up a small blue book. The cover read,

“Your Story Begins Here.” When she opened it, the pages were blank—except for a single line:

Step outside. Confused, she left the shop. The moment the door closed,

she turned around. The bookstore was gone, replaced by an empty alley.