The sun filtered in through the window, lightening upon the sleeping girl. She stirred,ever so gently, before her eyes flicked open. She smiled, stretched, then slung her coversoff. She quickly went about getting dressed, choosing a white, cotton sundress with a paledaisy pattern. She slipped on a pair of sandals as she brushed her short, black hair. Itglistened as she pulled the sides up and tied them with a black ribbon. She finished hertoilette before running from her room and skipping down the stairs.

"I’m going to the park," she called before closing the door behind her.

This was her day. A day she had set aside to claim as her own when so many others werefull. And how much more perfect could it be, she wondered as she stared at the blue sky.She breathed in the freshness of a newborn day, and continued her walk. It seemed such along time ago that she had been restrained from taking joy in the little things, but thatwas ages ago, practically a whole-other life. She was living this day as it was.

She was feeling just a little guilty as she had told her best friend she was busytoday. But, in a way, she was. She entered the park and walked to the lake. She sat downon a bench overlooking the lake, the warm sun shining down on her. The ducks fed theiryoung and the swans swam gracefully as she closed her eyes and, leaning her head back torest against the back of the bench, drifted into a light slumber.

She felt a cool breeze pass over her and heard a voice, low and deep, say gently,"Miss, are you all right?" She at first paid it no attention, but as a hand waslaid on her own, the dream-voice gained substance and she slowly opened her eyes. Beforeher was a young man dressed in a dark pair of khaki pants and a short-sleeved, whitecotton shirt. The sun almost blinded her as it glared off his copper hair.

As she realized her position, she sat up straight and smoothed out her dress."I’m sorry," she apologized. But she was still groggy from sleep."What time is it, may I ask?"

"A quarter of three."

"Thank you." Then she realized what he had said. "A quarter of three?Why, I have slept the entire day away!" she exclaimed. The she buried her head in herhands. "I can’t believe this. The entire day."

The stranger saw a tear drop from between her fingers. "Miss, I only wanted to seeif you were okay." She didn’t respond to him. He reached up and placed a hand onher shoulder, moving to sit beside of her. He watched her, but she paid him no attention,and he gently eased her against him. I hope she doesn’t take this the wrong way,he thought to himself. She relaxed against him and silently wept.

She was angry with herself. This day of all days, and she had to go and do a stupidthing like wasting it. What was worse, she hadn’t really been tired. Yet she sleptfor hours without another thought. It was self-pity, she knew, but it was her special day,and she had ruined it. Finally, her tears passed and she rested against the strong formthat had comforted her. She slowly raised her tear-stained face to her stranger. He wasstaring off at some point in the distance. For some strange reason, that gave her peace,and she began to sit up.

His attention back to the girl, he released her from his embrace. She seemed to be atease now, and so he smiled. "Are you feeling better now?" he asked softly.

She nodded her head, for at that moment she was speechless. "Thank you," shemanaged at last.

"Any time. My name is Washi Kado. And may I know yours?"

Well, the least I can do is give him that. After all, he was so kind to me."My name is Tomoe Hotaru. And I am sorry if I have inconvenienced

To be continued.....