Yellow, blue, red, green, purple, and all the colours anyone could ever imagine. They were all there, and I couldn’t ask for more! The excitement to try even one was very much visible on my face. I was sure no matter how old I’d get, I’d always love eating these sweet candy bites!

Just by opening the door, and entering the shop, the sweet and delicious smell of the candy could be smelled flowing through the air.

I was ALWAYS there. For him. When he needed. And I was there for him. I loved him, Literally like how first and last loves should be. He left me. And he hurt me. At every chance he got. Because that’s what I was to him. A doll. A secured item, he knew he had at the end of the day.

A secured item, he knew he had at the end of the day. A doll. That’s what I was to him. At every chance he got. He hurt me. And he left me. Literally like how first and last loves should be, I loved him And I was there for him. When he needed. For him. I was ALWAYS there.

I blinked, and I blinked As the room continued to buzz louder with people Lost in my own self, Afar from the rest, I was indistinct. I felt a weirdly familiar feeling, of wanting to find oneself.

30 people and more, Must be in this very room, Yet my heart felt stuck in a Great War, When all it truly wants, is to soar. Soar so high, Feeling so wild, That the 30 people will feel lonely. Instead of her.

Her heart, Seemed almost dead, Felt no happiness or pain. Just loneliness.

Just as a quick lightbulb flicker, Right before it makes its decision, To shine on, Or come to a stop? Was the same thought that lingered with her.

The same light that once shone so bright, Was now slowly fading away, Every second.

‘ Years of rebellions, fights, shifting, and struggles is finally over! My little one is finally a mature grown up and is graduating today! Can you believe it?’ I thought to myself. To my surprise, my daughter is 21 years old and is graduating today. I cannot say this enough times or contain the excitement clearly showing on my face! I wonder if time really does fly fast or have I time traveled to the future because it feels like wasn’t it just yesterday she was crying for a new Barbie doll and I was teaching her how to read?

I felt so anxious and jumpy, it almost felt like it was my graduation day. Yes, Indians don’t usually get excited for such things, it’s more like a solicitation ceremony with a certificate and some flowers for us. But I was different from the usual Indian self, you see.

The thoughts did not stop, but the announcements had begun. “And we welcome everyone, the class of 2021!” A long line of students in blue gowns and hats walked down the auditorium aisle. Every student, parent, and teacher was grinning from one end of the face to the other. After all, it was the contribution of everyone there. In that one giant auditorium. I couldn’t help but clap the loudest when Marissa‘s name was called on.

She shook the professors hand and waved and blew a kiss at me as the audience went, “AWWWWW!”

After the ceremony, successfully finding me in a crowd of excited parents, Marissa ran straight up to me right into my arms.

After a long sigh, she said “I wish mom were here, I miss her. But I am lucky I got you!” She smiled and handed someone the camera to take a picture together.

Donald awoke with an abrupt loud noise of an alarm clock ringing next to his ear. He was always one to snooze and never set the alarm. “What is this noise and where did it come from?” He thought to himself while the struggle to open his eyes continued. The room had an atmosphere of a dark, chilly Sunday morning up in a wooden mountain cabin, as if it wanted Donald to succumb to the comfort and go back to sleep.

Shutting of his eyes, he waved off to sleep again. But, in a short second, he realised that the alarm clock wasn’t his and sat up scared of where he was as the realisation set in. He looked around the room from under the soft bedsheets, to the left was the window as big as him covered with two sets of curtains, on the right there was a door leading to the bathroom and a small table and chair. He spotted a trolley bag which was half open on the floor near the bathroom door. It looked like it was packed for at least two or three days of travel.

There was nothing more, nothing less in that room.

He could not recognise anything at all. The room started to spin, and he felt like he was going to puke as his heart beat so loud out of his chest. The panic started to set in, and he clutched onto the sheets and clasped his eyes shut until he could be confident enough to get off his bed and check the luggage to hopefully find a clue about where he was.

More importantly, why.

Just then, as if God was giving you a clue to help you out of your disdain, there was a gentle knock on the door. “Good morning! Dr. Mammoth, we are waiting to depart, please meet us in 15 minutes?”

Donald couldn’t help but wonder, “Dr. Mammoth? Who does he think is in this room? How did you end up here? Did I get kidnapped and put in the wrong room? Is this doctor somewhere here, maybe dead? How the hell did I end up here? Didn’t I just have pizza at Marie Ann’s party last night and went home to sleep?” As all sorts of thoughts came into his mind, he was terrified and could only think of the worst.

The doorknob started to turn slowly, as a harsh and strict voice from behind came once more, “Dr. Mammoth, we are coming in, we have to get ready and depart in the next 5 minutes. Please cooperate with us!”

I sprinted up from the bed and rushed to the bathroom and locked it behind me. That is when I saw ‘IT’ in the mirror. I slapped my hand on my mouth and covered a huge gasp that had almost escaped.

In the mirror stood a wrinkly old man about the age of 45 to 55 years. Dark, puffy bags under his insomniac looking green eyes, white beard and soft hair. This was NOT Donald. Thought’s raced inside him at the speed of light, “Where am I? What is going on?” Suddenly a voice came from behind the bathroom door, “ Doctor? We hope you are ready to deliver your speech, it is time to go.” Muttering up the courage, Donald asked “What is the speech about? And… where are we right now?”

“Oh! You’re to give a speech on the meaning of live, we’re in Ontario right now, Doc. Are you feeling okay?”

Donald quickly or a pair a formal trousers that were hanging behind the door, and neatly I and blue sure that have been waiting for him, and a blazer coat. “Yes! Totally fine, let’s go!” He exclaimed.

Donald, who was an 18-year-old American student up until last night, could not wrap his brains around what is going on and decided to go with the flow and probably figure it out along the way.

“Good morning everyone! Today we talk about the MEANING OF LIFE. But how can we, when we will only understand it once it’s not ours anymore. Value yourself everyday, live and love deeply, laugh because these memories you create, the precious life you very much hold won’t come back. Life, is precious and a one time opportunity, no re-dos or retakes. So enjoy, and just LIVE.”

An applause filled the entire auditorium as Dr. Mammoth completed his quick 5 minute speech and took a bow.

I jumped along with Marina, excited about where a journey out into the city will take us today. Skipping, all through the way while her hand fragilely tugged at mine at all times to make sure I was near.

The woman at the market was my most favourite person of all time. Every year, she would come at the same time when the May Fair and Festival would take place bringing in the sweet aromas of flowers blooming and the welcome of Spring. She was breathing and walking fire wherever she went, and for that I’d be willing to travel to any lengths to watch her live. Just as my sister.

Marina’s hair rested on her shoulders as delicate as a newborn baby on a hospital bed. A strand of hair flew on to her face, and it looked like a mix of blonde, silk and smooth. A fine perfection indeed.

Marina is the prettiest girl I’d ever seen. As beautiful as she is, both inside and out, she’s also as bold and kind as anyone could ever be. I knew that no matter what, where, when or how it was, if I needed anything at all, I just had to ask Marina. Or just look at her and she’d know. It is that unspoken telepathic bond we share that I find and treasure as the most special. Marina is my saviour when it comes to so many things. How could someone be so beautiful, sweet, loving, caring and selfless at the same time? In today’s world everyone is hell bent on being selfish and won’t even hesitate for a second to pull you down, and a kind hearted soul like Marina’s was too precious for this world. She deserved better.

She was the one angel whose mission was to fly calmly, spreading peace and love amongst all people on earth. That’s who Marina was.

And I’m Marilyn, the younger sister.

Who is often the most favourite amongst the family members, but I’m sure my favourite is Marina. The one I look up to, with all the beauty, intelligence and knowledge that she spends most hours of the day sharing with me, and makes me love all my shared moments with her even more.

Marina was pure perfection, and I proud to say out loud when asked about who I want to be when I grow up? “Marina!” “Why?”

“Because she is perfect.”

“RUN!” Camy screamed at the top of her long as if her life depended on it. Her friends, Sam and Patrick‘s footsteps followed behind her as they ran out of the school premises and onto the street. Gasping for air, hands on their knees, the three of them hunched forward in a circle as Camy could be heard questioning, “Where do we go now? Where should we hide?”

No answer followed, only the struggled gasps of air could be heard. “Guys! Hurry, stupid Mr Jack would be here any minute now with the cops!” A stressed out Camy Now spoke with more nervousness than tiredness.

As if to follow her cue and prove her right the school gates opening and guards running could be heard from a nearby distance. Quickly followed by police sirens nearby. In a short second, Camy could notice Sam and Patrick flushed cheeks had now gone pale and she grabbed them by the wrist and ran and ran. And kept running, all the way to 32nd Street, leading them directly into the garage of her house, not letting go or looking back even once. Sam open the garage door really quickly and Tip towed his way in defined the lights bitch well Camy and Patrick followed close by. As quiet as a mouse, they sneaked back into Cami’s bedroom and joined the rest of their sleepover party friends, quietly passing out with all the exhaustion from tonight.

”Tring-Tring…!” The alarm clock rang as early as seven in the morning for the kids to wake up and get ready for an eventful Sunday planned by their parents. Cami wiped the sand out of her eyes and search the room filled with sleeping bags, mattresses, blankets and pillows for her two best friends, Sam and Patrick. They caught each other’s eyes and flashed a huge grin.

“What are you guys smiling about?” Asked Carly who had noticed them. She was the smartest in the sharpest kid in class nobody could ever fool. Carly always happened to know the answer to every thing, you could say she was an annoying little know-it-all. “Nothing Carly! Not everything involved you, ya know?” Snapped Patrick in an annoyed tone. “Hey! Don’t be mean Patrick! Oh Carly… it’s nothing. We were just Spring about the big ice cream sundae we are going to sneak and have!” Sam blushed away and confessed to her of our conversation from a day ago. It was supposed to be a secret.

Rolling her eyes, she realised this doesn’t really interest her and started to get up to get ready. Suddenly she turned towards me and yelled, “Miss Rhodes, Cami Says she’s going to sneak a huge ice cream Sundae without asking you and also not even share it with any of us!” I have known Carly ever since we were in Kindergarten and up till last year, when we were in 3rd grade she was fine, but completely changed this year. So she knew exactly what triggered me and my family and she pulled her card just to annoy me, once again.

“That’s not very nice Cami, let’s all get an ice cream cup today! Who’s ready?” Mom screamed from the kitchen rushing to cook 15 children their breakfast. The doorbell rang and I could hear my Dad shuffling to reach the door while my mom struggled as a solo fighter in the kitchen.

I could hear two men enter the house and climb up the stairs to barge into the room, “You three! Please come with me!” Said one officer directly pointing and looking at us three. “Me? Why?” I asked looking at my dad for assurance, who was now scared to bits from the look on his face.

“Young lady, because we have camera footage of you breaking and vandalising school property late last night with your 2 friends here, tell me wasn’t that you? Your principal called us and couldn’t understand why you’d do such a thing. You weren’t even the ones being expelled apparently. Let’s go we’ll talk somewhere else.” He whispered although a little too loud for everyone in the small room to hear.

I quietly followed him with my head hanging below my shoulders like a murder felon. A crime is a crime isn’t it? We decided to vandalise the school because we thought we were unfairly being expelled. Great, to be a felon in 4th grade is quite a start to the school year and life, huh?

You remember the time when all you wanted was to cuddle up in a warm hug, covered in a blanket in front of the TV, biting away at just pizza and beer? As if there was not a single strain of worry in the world for you. You are that free. What happened? Don’t you miss it, or should I ask myself, don’t you miss him?

The answer is definitely, yes.

Because people like him don’t just happen every day. They aren’t just made like that anymore. He could move the whole world with just a single word and you would see the whole stars constellation in his eyes. The amount of passion he helps things and people was the immense, he would do everything in his power to help them.

And yet. No one helped him. No one heard his cries for help.

Including me.

While I said here on the park bench this sunny Tuesday afternoon, I’m not as strong as I used to be. I still miss him. More and more with each passing day.

I could cry and cry forever, in his memory. Just wishing to see him one last time, to them in my arms, to feel his lips on mine slowly, his arms around me, his laughter still ringing in my ears.
One last time.

But I know, it isn’t possible because sometimes destiny has another story written out for you. If I got a chance to change places with him, I would do it in a heartbeat without even thinking, he was that wonderful and I was that much in love with him. Now, every day in his memory, I come to our favourite park, our favourite bench we have shared so many memories, laughs, cries and hugs and just miss him dearly and soulfully.

I am now Mrs. Lisa Clark. Yes, I took his name and I now also have an adopted daughter and a puppy and I make sure both of them know what their adopted “to-be” father and my “to-be” husband was like. I think they now love him almost as much as I do and with each passing day with your name leaving my lips, I feel like I can take on the world.

Weeks, months and years pass, and well people crib about time passing away I cannot wait to be reunited with the love of my life. I know you’ll be waiting for me, on the other side of life.

“I love you…” I quietly whisper looking next to me on the bench where my hand lay calmly on the empty spot with a slight tear rolling down my cheek and a smile forming on the edges of my lips in his memory.