1.Day at Park (25 years ago) Neil's POV

"What is she still doing? If she dont come down after 5 minutes , I'll go home and play video games"

"Just when i was about to turn away and walk home", "I heard someone call my name".

"Nil wait", she screamed out loud,

It was Julie Miller, the person i was waiting for, she is a tiny girl, a year younger than me, her parents moved to our neighbourhood a year ago, and since there's only 2 of us of similar age in the whole neighbourhood , her mother asked me to be friends with her and we have been hanging around together for a year".

"I told u to not call me by that name,

My name is Neil not nil", i said angrily to her.

"Ehh" but it is more easier to call that way, and my mom told me to call my friends with nicknames", she replied laughing amusely.

"Tsk" " Whatever ",lets go soon otherwise we will be late for the ballon parade", i replied to her, and rushed towards the road grabbing her hands.

"Ouch" "it hurts she screamed silently", i then let my grips loosen a little and we hurried towards the parade.

It was March 12, and ever year our community organised parade's to celebrate the "community survival day". It was celebrated to dedicate people from our hometown for not abandoning the poor village that it used to be'.Our town "Dali", used to be small and isolated from the big cities, but about 5 years ago ,we received help from the goverment, and now the small and poor village is filled with liveliness and is one of the tourisim spots for hotsprings.

Today is also julie's 11th Birthday , her wish was to go to ballon parade

with me. Although our town was anticipated for hotsprings, there were no more than 5 or 6 tourist every year, so there was no sense of danger found anywhere, and children's roam around the town like nothing.

As we close in to the park, she screamed joyously " horse in cloth", i glanced my head sideway and saw a black stallion covered with decorations ready to lead the parade. "We watched the parade for almost 2 hours without being tired or sleepy".

I was a little tired after standing for that long and glanced towards Julie, who was enjoying the parade like her last.

"I want to pee", i cried out in my head, but held a little longer for parade to end, so she wont get lost in the crowd while i go to pee.

Just when i could no longer hold myself, a hand tapped at my shoulder from behind, i turned my head around and saw Uncle leonard smiling brightly.

He asked us where's our parents and what were we doing alone here in the crowd, i smirked and replied,

"im the one who took julie out here , today", proudly like a man on duty.

" He He", he giggled and replied laughily, Ha Ha, "Of course young man".

"He He", I grinned like an idiot upon here the praise.

"Oh no", i squeaked silently.

"What happened", Uncle Leonard asked.

"I'm about to pee", i told him holding my tummy and restraining as much as i can.

"Go ahead", "Its not good for a young man to restrain, I'll look after

julie", he told amusingly.

I asked Julie to stay with Uncle Leonard for a while and ran as fast as i can, Julie responded " Wait", confused as i vanished in the crowd.

I was looking for the public bathroom, but after seeing the long line, i looked if there's anyone nearby and dashed behind the bush right in front of me and released ,all the pent up waste.

"Ah", "it was better than i thought", i shrieked in excitement.

I got out of the bush and wandered around for a while, when i realised i got lost.

"Ehh", where are they?, they were supposed to be here, did they go somewhere? , i wondered searching for any signs of the previous place.

It was not that of a big place to get lost but the park was round in shape and had to two opposite entrance ,which made it similar from both sides, and children's easily got confused.

I was sure, i was a the right place, but not seeing them there made me confused and doubt.

My mother had asked me to be careful and bring back Julie safe and sound. So i searched the area for a while and after fruitless attempt , i walked towards one of the bench in the park that was beneath a tree.

I saw no one sitting on the bench but as i walked nearer , i saw a girl sleeping on the bench.

Not sure what to do, i sat at the little empty space beside her.

She was sleeping so peacefully under shade of tree, upon closer look she was so skinny and her arms and legs were so tiny and looked so fragile that it could have broken if someone touch her.

I sat down for a while observing her, long white hair and skin smooth and fair as snow. Her closed eyes gave the perfect vision of long eyelashes that covered the eyes perfectly.

"Umm', i thought for a while, where did i saw someone fit her description ,

"Ah", its snowhite, "yes", she looked like snowhite in the picturebook my mommy showed me, i muttered to myself.

'But she had black hair in the picturebook', i thought and wondered about other princess that fits her.

About 20 minutes had passed but i was reluctant to leave her alone in such a vulnerable state, my mommy told me that a man should take care if ladies, only then i would be a gentleman.

I glanced ,' here and there' for while, looking for people who may know her, but no one seems to be around.

The sunny day had made me tired and it was cool and comfortable beneath the shade that i was feeling a bit sleepy.

I woke up upon hearing a shivering sound, and noticed that the girl has not woken up yet. It was almost time for sunset, i wondered if i should wake her up, i hesitated a bit but seeing no one has came for her, i shaked her gently, she was still sleeping ,arms and legs now tightly wound around her. I placed my sweatshirt on top of her, as i took it off during the day. Although it was cold for me too but sacrificing for a lady was worth it.

I waited for another 10 minutes but realised i had to go home, so i shaked her gently again but she did not wake up. I tried a little bit harder just not hard enough to crush her shoulders but she was not waking up.

"Whats wrong with her"?, Why is she not waking up?

I was afraid if something was wrong, i didn't know what to do. It was scary to see someone not waking up after so much try.

Seeing something unnatural gave me fright. "What if she never wakes up"?

Then i remembered something about people dying while sleeping.

It send me chills down my spine.

"No i have to go back , i dont want to see someone die!"

Without further thinking i grabbed my sweatshirt and ran as fast as i could , I was more worried about being involve in something so unnatural as dying while sleeping than the little girl not waking up.

After running a few blocks i gasped for breath, I was feeling guilty for abandoning the little girl but nothing more than fear came in my mind.

What should i do ? Should i go back and check? Will she be alright?

I walked towards home slowly fill with anxiety, I was worried about her but i had to go home, to check on Julie.

After a few metres, i saw a wanted photo of a shaddy person, who had robbed few houses.

I was fixed in a dilemma, what should i do?, She isn't dead yet!

Dead? why would i think of someone dead?, she was just sleeping so peacefully before.

"Oh no". My mind was filled with dreadful images that i could possibly think of.

Anxiety filled my brain, I was filled with fear ,guilt and remorse, My mind was filled with all the dreadful possibilities that could happen to the little girl.

"What have i done?, what if something bad happen to her? ,If something happen to her i won't be able to forgive myself for rest of my life.

Filled with terror , I ran as fast as i could , i was gasping for air so much, its just a few blocks away i told myself, my lungs were about to burst, it felt so much pain in the ribs, but i could not think of anything,... just a little more.

I saw the corner around the gate, i dashed so fastly that i tripped over the iron bar below the gate.

"THUD" i fell down and crashed on top of the dustbin.

I made a dent on the dustbin made of copper ,my hands were bleeding by the scratches but there was no feeling of pain nor did i had the time to think about all of that.

I got up and ran even more faster.

As i approached the tree i could see the bench.

I could not see her ,"Where is She"?

My mind went blank. Sweat and tears dripped from my face , nothing came to my mind just wanting to see a tiny glimpse of her.

As I close in further i saw hair's waving back in forth in the air.

I stopped and gasped for air, my chest was hurting so much, i fell down on my knees wanting to throw up, sweat and saliva dripped from the mouth, i gave a big cough which hurt my ribs even more.

After a few minutes, i was a little better and was breathing normally but the pain was still in my chest and ribs, my legs were feeling so weak that i had to support on my knees to get up, i walked a step with legs about to crumble anytime soon.

I walked slowly towards the bench seeking a glimpse of her face.

Her hair was waving in the air, i wanted to confirm she is still breathing and kicking alive.

I touched the side of the bench as saw her knees bent and arms wrap around, shivering in cold ,still asleep.

"Sigh"... i gave a deep breath of relief.

I sat down on my knees ,her face were covered all over with hairs, she was gasping desperately to breathe, i slowly placed my hand in her face and gave a gentle stroke to her hairs covering her face. A sweet smile came on her face as she was relieved to breathe.

"Look at u ,sleeping so peacefully without a care in the world, while i ran like the world came to end", i muttered silently to her.

I dont know what came over me, but my face leaned closer to her,

slowly the distance between us closed gaps and it was not more than a centimeter, i could feel her breathe against my face, i closed my eyes and gave a gentle kiss on her lips.

I opened my eyes with my lips still on hers. I saw two crystal blue eyes looking at me.

"Ahh Sorry", i squeaked and drew my head back embarrassed.

"What have i done"!, I kikk ki ssed her? ,"It was so embarrassing " What should i do?".my mind went blank again.

"what were doing?", she asked touching her lips.

"I'm sorry it was my fault, u were sleeping for so long that i didn't know what to do!", i replied.

"So u kissed me?", do u know a girl's first kiss represents their future" , she yelled loudly.

With nothing to respond ,i was scared and tears were dripping from my face, when she lowered her voice and gently said, "

Ok dont cry, im sorry, i wasn't trying to be angry at u ,i was just mad because u kissed me without my consent, and a boy should never cry over something like this."

"Sniff", i cleared my nose and sat on the bench silently.

"I'm Eve, what's ur name?", she asked.

"I..i.im Neil", i replied snipping my nose shyly.

"So u stayed with me while i was asleep", she asked.

"Yes", i replied silently,

What did u say , i did not hear u?", she asked again.

"No.. i mean Yes.. i ran away after trying to wake u up but i came back to see u because i was worried about u", i replied almost screaming.

"Ha Ha Ha", she laughed cheerfully.

She fell silent after that, i glanced at her ,she looked sad and lonely, i stared gazes at her ,when she saw me staring at her.

" U know! There was no one in my life who was worried about me" so thank u , she said both sad and cheerfull.

I dont know what she was feeling, but it looked painful, she was so tiny and fragile, like she was about to break and looking so sad at her age made my heart ache.

"I..If there is no one then! can i worry about u", i replied with a serious remark.

She looked at me seriously , just when she was about to say something, a ringing sound came.

She walked away from me, and begin to converse in the device she was holding near his ear.

Is it called a phone , i wondered?

She talked for a few minutes and came back and said,

"My parents are waiting for me in the gate , i think we should say our goodbyes".

I..I'll walk u to them, i replied, still paranoid about the foster.

"Ok", she replied

and we walk towards the gate , before reaching the corner around the gate ,she stopped and came towards me. She gave me a hug and said to me;

"Thank u for today, and dont kiss any girl if u dont want to be resonsible", i think i should leave from here.

She ran towards the gate , i watched as she disappeared behind the gate.

A loud "VROOOM.." sound came from the gate and the sound grew thinner and thinner.