Page 94 - The Midnight Library

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‘People with stamina aren’t made any differently to anyone else,’ she was

saying. ‘ e only difference is they have a clear goal in mind, and a
determination to get there. Stamina is essential to stay focused in a life filled
with distraction. It is the ability to stick to a task when your body and mind
are at their limit, the ability to keep your head down, swimming in your

lane, without looking around, worr ying who might overtake you . . .’
Who the hell was this person?
She skipped a little further into the video, and this other Nora was still
talking with the confidence of a self-help Joan of Arc.

‘If you aim to be something you are not, you will always fail. Aim to be
you. Aim to look and act and think like you. Aim to be the truest version of
you. Embrace that you-ness. Endorse it. Love it. Work hard at it. And don’t
give a second thought when people mock it or ridicule it. Most gossip is

envy in disguise. Keep your head down. Keep your stamina. Keep swimming
. . .’
‘Keep swimming,’ Nora mumbled, echoing this other self and wondering
if the hotel had a pool.

e video disappeared and a second later her phone started to buzz.
A name appeared. ‘Nadia’.
She didn’t know any Nadias in her original life. She had no idea if seeing
the name would have inspired this version of her with happy anticipation or

sinking dread.
ere was only one way to find out.
‘Hello?’
‘Sweetheart,’ came a voice she didn’t recognise. A voice that was close but

not entirely warm. She had an accent. Maybe Russian. ‘I hope you are okay.’
‘Hi Nadia. anks. I’m fine. I’m just here in the hotel. Getting ready for a
conference.’ She tried to sound jolly.
‘Oh yeah, the conference. Fieen thousand pounds for a talk. Sounds

good.’
It sounded ridiculous. But she also wondered how Nadia – whoever
Nadia was – knew this.
‘Oh yeah.’

‘Joe told us.’
‘Joe?’