It was one of those really annoyingly hot days. The air was thick with a sweltering heat that felt like it weighed you down. Every breath was thick and hot, almost suffocating. The sun beat down on the playground in the small park within the suburbs. You could see the concrete sidewalks baking as the sun punishingly blazed on. I had sat under this veranda to find some shade earlier but the sun had followed me and I found myself basking in the fiery glow of high noon. I would move but I had already found a comfortable spot and couldn't really be bothered anymore. I'm sure you 've had one of those days. You just plant yourself some place and decide that that is where you'll be. Rooted. The sun was really bright, though. I closed my eyes. Maybe it would go away. But its rays just pierced through and I could see the bright red of my eyelids glowing instead. I hear the sound of a child scurrying by with his guardian close behind him. Wearing his miniature, white rubber shoes with some cartoon character plastered on the side and a tiny baseball cap - portable shade. Your ordinary, cute kid. I hate kids. It's strange that you'd see them at this time of the day. I chuckled. He's not going to go near that metal slide unless he wants to fry himself. His guardian made sure he didn't go near the structures and negotiated to come back later when the sun would be more forgiving. Eventually, the heat discouraged the kid and he complied with his guardian. Ah, finally. Peace and quiet. This heat is really bothersome though, I think to myself. At this moment, my eyelids turn from red to black. It couldn't be a cloud since it happened rather rapidly. I look up and see a familiar face. "Hey there, bud", the boy says to me. I nod in acknowledgment and close my eyes again. I know the drill and he will be doing most, if not all, of the talking. He sat down beside me with a sigh. Not a good day again. He took some time to gather his thoughts. He would say something any time now. Any time. Meanwhile, I noticed some crickets chirping in the distance. Wonder how something can seem so lively in this heat. "Remember Sara? Yeah. She's giving me mixed signals again. I wish I could just look into her mind and know what she's thinking," he began. Here we go. Another heartbreak story about this girl Sara. This guy never learns —but— the shade is welcome. "Remember that talk we had the other day? She said that things could have been different if only I wasn't the way I was now. Doesn't that mean I have a shot?" Not really. "Well, I have been trying. I got into sports and I've been trying to work my ass off. Of course, I'm not yet the captain of the basketball team..." He rambled on about his many, many endeavors to please Sara. I wonder why do people invest so much in the temporary? Whether this Sara loves you or not, she won't always be there. Doesn't that set you up for failure in the beginning? He sighed again. If I had a meal for every time he sighed, I'd never go hungry. Come to think of it, I am a bit peckish. But the heat still won over beating me down into my current state. I grumble a bit. He looks at me assuming I chimed in with his displeasure over his situation. "I know, right? If only she gave me another chance, she would be so happy. Only I could make her so happy because I love her this much. She'd never be alone." Got that right. This kid's always around. But I guess that's not such a bad thing. To be completely alone in this vast and harsh world would be a terrible thing. I suppose I understand. I yearned for that in my youth. For my mother, siblings, friends. Companionship. But you grow older and realize eventually everyone must take a different path. Most often, your paths will not be the same. Most often, you will wind up alone, anyway. But still, I understand the kid, I guess. I listen on to him without a sound. Patiently. He probably needs it. "You know, you're the only one I can talk to about this. You don't judge me. I mean, I know I can be pretty ridiculous but that's love, I think? I just really, really want a shot again because it's eating me up inside. The thought of her not loving me. Of being with someone else. The thought of me being left behind." I slowly move my head up and stretch. I turn my head to him and look attentively. I don't understand these problems really — love — but I can sense pain. Pain, I am familiar with. "It's nice to have somebody in the world." He looks at me and gently pats my back. I'm not exactly touchy but I welcome this gesture. It feels warm. Not the kind of way the stupid weather today is warm but warm inside. "I hope I'll always have you." He says as he absentmindedly leaves his hand on my back. It's not like I'm going anywhere. I assure him with a quiet gaze. And just then, a gentle breeze gently rolls by us and caresses us almost in this cool embrace.