Every day I find myself in the same library, every day at the same time, at 10 PM. Just an hour before closing, but I always stayed longer. I was given a key a year or so after going there, Ezequiel had known me since I was a kid after all, he somehow trusted me even after the stupid shit I had done when I was younger. From petty theft to vandalism… Perhaps it was just that, maybe he wanted me to keep my life on track and thought this would help, ‘supporting the youth’s interests’ or something like that. I vaguely remember seeing posters talking about that in school halls, trying to get us to join groups and clubs to find other people with similar interests. Unlike those club leaders — usually teachers who weren’t being paid enough to get even more extra hours of spending time with students they didn’t like — Ezequiel actually seemed to care. He always made sure I would eat just before he left, he would ask how it was at home, if I was sure that I didn't need to stay at his place for just a little while. He cared, and he listened, not just to me but also to the other two he allowed to stay.

Tonight, however, I found myself completely alone with the rows of bookshelves, along with a bag of crisps, a sketchbook and a few open books. The...