Behind the word of nothing

Winter is over, with the clouds finally breaking down after several weeks, while the kids and their families began swarming the Hyde park in central London, chasing down the sunlight as it moves around and closing their eyes for a minute to enjoy the sun rays tickling their skin giving them that indescribable warmth feeling like a invisible bath of happiness.

It was a wonderful day indeed, full of joy and laughter all over the Hyde park, however just outside the main road on a wooden bench, sat an old man, with a wooden walking stick grabbing it's top with both hands and resting his head over them with eyes closed; people thought he was dead at first but they realize if that is true he would have fallen from that pose a long time ago.

Nevertheless they agreed to stay away from him, some of them were just afraid, while others wanted to give that strange old man a peace of mind, and even though the park was full of all kinds of noise, in just that tiny area around the wooden bench with old man it was strangely quiet, and only the sound of flying birds was there.

The wind began to pick up the pace, the old man smiled as he felt that chilling breeze touching his face, and the quite whistle of the wind rings beside his ears, but there was another feeling, it was like someone is pulling down the tip of his jacket sleeve gently, he slowly open his blue eyes looking down to his right, and in that place stood a young girl, with a brown hair tied behind her head and another pair of pure blue eyes, looking up at him, even though she wasn't smiling her face was full of innocence, the old man moved his hand to pat on her head she must be five years old at most he thought to himself before saying "hey little girl, what is your name?", the girl stayed quite for a while before replying "Emma", "That is really a beautiful name you have there Emma" the old man said as he smiles at her, he raised his head looking around hoping that her parents is near, but he couldn't find any scared mom or a panicked dad searching for their lost daughter near him, "do you know where are your parents Emma?" said the old man as he looks at her, she shook her head no, the old man sighed in confusion as he stands up and pick up Emma little hand, "Then I guess we have to go search for them." said the old man with a cheerful voice as they both began their quest to find Emma parents.

The park was full of young parents and their children, so it was quite strange to scene to see and old man walking with the help of wooden stick in one hand and in the other grabbing a young girl hand, they spent quite sometimes searching around the Hyde park, the old man turning his head left and right and paying attention hoping that someone is screaming Emma name somewhere near, while Emma kept her steady face that shows no fear or discomfort, and as they pass by an ice cream cart, the girl said "I want one!", the old man stopped and looked at Emma as she point her finger to the Ice cream cart , "are you sure Emma?" he said, Emma nodded her head yes this time, so the Old man went to ice cream guy and said,

- I would like one ice cream please.

- what flavor would you like Sir.

The old man looked at the girl as she point her finger once again towards the Vanilla flavor, so the Old man ordered it saying "vanilla flavor, and make it two not one"; the ice cream guy quickly gave him two vanilla ice cream cups, before Emma and the old man continue their journey, he looked at her as she took the first bite, she closed her eyes and her face twitched a little as she says "mmmmm so cold, so cold", the old man laughed at her reaction, Emma looked at him with upset eyes and stood her ground, the old man leaned toward her patting on her head, "don't be upset you knew it will be cold right", he said; the girl looked at him with her blue eyes, then she suddenly raised her hand and jumped in her place, the old man shook his head saying "oh no no no, don't tell me you want to be carried Emma!!", she didn't answer as she keeps jumping, the old man sighed with tiresome, "okay okay guess it is a fair punishment for my laughter" he said as he carries her to sit over his head, and they continue their journey while she eats ice cream over his head.

It has been over an hour, the old man and Emma went everywhere, she made a mess of his head as she dropped some ice cream over his hair, yet he couldn't complain much as she laughs out loud when she does so, while he still holds his ice cream cup on one hand and the other grabbing his wooden walking stick, they finally reached the park lake, the old man got Emma down and they both sat on a wooden bench looking over the lake, the old man began to think that he should call the authorities to search for her parents, but he was really surprised that after all that time Emma didn't cry at all, he looked at her as she watched the lake, her face somehow looked familiar now or maybe is it because he spent so much time with her; "Emma, Emma" a young woman voice shouted from afar, the old man and Emma quickly stood up looking at the source of the voice, and before he realize it, Emma began to run towards her mom, the old man followed her seeing her mom looking at their direction and noticing her child and she began to ran towards her too, it was indeed a arm reunion as the mother hugs her child carrying her and shouting " oh Emma I was so worried about you where have you been all this time", Emma raised her head from her mom shoulder and pointed to the old man who was approaching them, the woman went quickly to him and shakes his hand " I am grateful for you, for taking care of Emma, please forgive her if she annoyed you or anything" she said, the old man smiled at her and said " it is okay madam Emma is a wonderful girl"; "what is your name?" said Emma suddenly, and the young woman looked surprised when her child spoke and said "wow, i can't believe it Emma rarely talks, to ask for you name, she seems grown fond of you.", the old man laughed "yes and I grow fond of her too, she reminds me of someone I knew a long time ago." the girl replied her question " what is your name?", the old man looked at her and said "I am Shawn, it was a pleasure meeting you Emma.",

Emma smiled at him as her mom thanks Shawn again before walking away from him, Emma kept looking to Shawn over her mom shoulder, and he could swear that he heard her saying "Thank you Shawn".

"Sir, Sir, Sir are you okay" a young voice shouted as Shawn wakes up from his sleep he quickly looked around trying to remember where he is; is this the same bench he has been sitting on for hours now, he remember something about a young girl yet he can't recall her name, "Sir, are you listening to me", Shawn looked up to the security officer, in front of him "yes, sorry I just woke up"

Shawn tries to stand up and the officer help him " are you okay would you like me to drive you home." said the officer, Shawn went quiet for second trying to remember the meaning of home, then he said "no need too officer, I will be on my way"

- are you sure, you seems quite tired Sir.

- yes, yes, nothing to worry about.

and so they began to walk away with Shawn holding his wooden walking stick on one hand and the officer holding his other hand to help him walk, and behind them on the wooden bench, there was a remains of an ice cream cup, that sunset rays begin to melt it away.

The end