A cherished night.

The rhythm of the zephyr that I felt on my skin tonight aroused the pores on my skin, taking careful steps on the pedestrian sidewalk, fixing my gaze on the floor, the street lights dim as it has always been, taking quick steps to get to my quiet spot.

I am Darryl, I can't say exactly who I am but I'm a 'caramel-skinned-girl' as Ariel would portray; Ariel? She's my friend, my best friend.

Today, I'm 21, how bittersweet it sounds, and here I am walking down the stress going to my quiet place to get peace, get scenarios out of the blue, make jokes with myself or try to write music again; another failed music, listen to songs and try try to imitate the singer with my 'unique-voice' - every person that hears me talk be like you have a unique-voice, within me, I'd be like "yo! just say it, i have a deep voice, I know" I don't talk a lot because I get a compliment that doesn't feel like a compliment.

It's 6:46pm, the play park as usual, turns desolate when it's 6pm, I walked to my spot, dropped by bag and guess what I saw? It's the most unusual thing you would never think of!

It's a sticker note placed on the bark of the acacia tree, a note for me, how weird, "Hi, Darryl, I hope your celebration gives you many happy memories! Enjoy your special day. Look up" I looked up, I saw a locket necklace, heart shaped, I opened it, it was a photograph of my younger self and my mom that died on this day fourteen years ago, my eyes became teary.

I turned 7 this day, my mom took me to get gifts from "The Harts" a supermarket.

My mom Kimberly, held my hand firmly, she paid for everything I wanted for my birthday and as soon as we stepped out of the supermarket, there was a rampage among youths, suddenly my mom and I heard gunshots firing and we threw everything we held to on the floor, we lay down there for a while, when the firing ended, I stood up but my mom didn't.

I wondered who would've left this sticker note, a precise note which refreshed my memory, as sure as eggs is eggs that cannot be Ariel.

I took the note off the tree, folded it into the rear pocket of my pants, I wore the locket necklace, I appreciated this little but the biggest gift I've gotten from an anonymous person.

I lay down on the grass, with my eyes closed and tears rolling out of my eyes, still trying to fathom why my mom decided to leave me, no, the bullet didn't hit my mom, I didn't see blood, she just didn't stand up, she wasn't moving, I tapped on my moms back a thousand time, I shouted 'mom' a million times and no response, I sat close to her, I thought she was sleeping, a man came from behind, picked me up from the floor, took me back inside the supermarket, he dialed 911, he had an indistinctive conversation, in less than twenty three minutes, I heard sirens screaming, it was an ambulance, I could see through the supermarket, my mom was placed on a wheeled stretcher.

I felt a kiss on my forehead, opening my eyes, Ariel had a cupcake with a 21 candle on the top.

She wiped my eyes and I sat up, she lit the candle and we sang an happy birthday song while dancing round the candle, I was happy again, thanks to Ariel. I made a wish, blew the light out of the candle, Ariel took the candle stick out and we both took a bite off the cup cake.

"You got this from McDonald's? It tastes so good!" I asked Ariel.

"I made this" Ariel had a smirky smile when she responded.

"I got a gift Ariel"

Ariel tilted her head so fast, staring at me with outmost surprise "from who?, why can't I see it?"

I gave a thought about telling her about the gift, how will she react if I told her I found my gift on a tree from nobody, I snapped out of my thoughts.

"Who else would have made my day special if not you" I gave her a warm smile and tilted forward to hug her.

Ariel embraces me tight, "you're always welcome, I love you" I could hear her giggling on my shoulder, we leaned our forehead against each other for a while like we'd always do as a sign of how much we love each other, when we sat up straight, we talked for a minute and then it was about time to go back home.

I hung my bag on my left shoulder, buttoned up my tees and zipped up my jumper, I didn't want Ariel to see the locket, we then walked to a distance and parted our ways home.