First Friday of summer, the sun is slowly burning my unprotected skin as I waddle down the pavement, always following the green triangle signs on the trees. All around me people lay still on the beach towels meticulously positioned on the soft grass, taking in every moment of the sun. Next to me my two friends, Kate and Ashley follow me with a heavy breath, exhausted by the unbearable heat. The queues to the water fountains are never ending, and there people stand with drool on the side of their mouths patiently waiting for their turns. All throughout the green areas I see children running and laughing, some even holding water balloons in their hands.
It is from the bare corner of my eye that I notice a sweaty, red blushed face that slowly differs to darker shades of red. She was running after a young agitated looking boy, engulfed by her numerous jackets all tied around her wide waist on this hot summer afternoon. Millions of strange thoughts rushed through my mind, but none will ever be answered. The young boy, amused by the situation, continued his way with a huge smile up to his ears hanging on his face. As I continue to walk down the pathway I notice them getting further and further and at last into the woods. As we slowly see them disappear Ashley, Kate and I pick up our pace and our footsteps are louder on the hot cement pavement, drawn by the scent of waffles and the chatter of people lining up by the ice cream truck.
Only a few seconds later I see the boy still running away, this time something felt off. His hair was dripping wet and his face was pale and swollen, his lips slightly open as if he had tried to take one last breath. I started shaking as I realized what just had happened to the young boy, Kate and Ashley supported me in their arms as my legs started shaking. There she was, still dressed in voluptuous coats except this time it was not a bottle in her hand. It was a gun. It was pointed directly at a middle-aged couple to whom the boy had run off to. There was not a sound in the park, not even the birds dared to let out a chirping sound. Everyone stood there shaking. The woman had fear in her eyes but anger on her face, she started walking down into a deeper part of the woods and we started running. Only a few seconds had passed but they felt like hours. But finally I was home at last, safe and sound.