Harold Alfred Edwards, the third was born to Harold II and Amelia Edwards, the founding couple of the future, on a seasonally warm February 20th, 2107.

Harold Alfred Edwards, the third was orphaned by Harold II and Amelia Edwards, the late couple of the future, on a chilly December 19th, 2120.

Harry walked the streets of Capital City, hands staying warm in his heavy winter coat pockets. Every few feet, a fellow pedestrian would recognize the young CEO but immediately turn their attention back to their lives as they remembered this morning's memorial on the news. The few who weren't aware of the events that took place on this day in December stopped to point and wave at him, some stopped him to gush or politely ask for a picture. Harry used all his energy to look presentable, smiling unconvincingly at the HoloCell camera as the joyous expression didn't quite reach his eyes.

The oblivious few would later gossip their encounter with their much more knowledgeable friends, who shame them for bothering Harry on the anniversary of his parents' deaths.

The anniversary of their deaths.

Harry still couldn't process the fact that at the age of 13, he had to bury both of his parents. Barely a teenager, Harry took over HoloTech as CEO while beginning the building blocks of Excalibur Gaming. Serenity, the motherboard that was uploaded onto all Edwards mainframes, acted as a guardian for Harry. He was old enough to care for himself but Serenity took care of housecleaning, grocery shopping, and most other parental chores.

The first year was the hardest. The one year anniversary left Harry incapable to function for the day. That was the first time Serenity uploaded herself into her exoskeleton since Harry was a baby. She cared more physically for Harry than just calling the required people to keep the household functioning. The robotic second mother was never emotional but dutiful and Harry was grateful for the comfort she could offer.

Going into his 5th year as an orphan, Harry walked steadily into the white blanketed cemetery with a head held high. As he approached the two simple headstones, he pulled two flowers out of his inner coat pocket. One white rose for his mother, one calla lily for his father. Placing both on their respective graves, Harry stepped back to admire the peacefulness of their final resting place. On the second year, Harry would begin to notice the disruption of the snow visitors would leave behind. Weeks before, he visited on the first snowfall. The plots were beautifully glimmering with fresh snow as he went to clear his head with the presence of his parents. But on the anniversary, he realized how the foot traffic took away that feeling of peace.

After much thought with Serenity, Harry made it public that all good wishes should be given at the statute built shortly before their deaths and that he wanted to keep the graves as a private grieving spot for him. Describing the snow to the viewers on the news segment, they acknowledged his demands and placed their flowers and memorials at the HoloTech statue.

Both flowers laid perfectly on the snow sitting on top of the graves, the white blending perfectly into the sheets. Harry crouched down to eye level with the grey stone slabs and pondered his last few weeks.

"I miss you both, tremendously," he whispered, slightly over the distant traffic that could still be heard.

The wind howled, blowing a few snowflakes off trees.

"I've met someone. You'd like him, mom. His name is Terrence and he's a bookworm, like you. He has taught me so much about books that you weren't able to, and I'm so grateful for it. He is warm and resonates with this glow that I can't even begin to describe. He's very short and has this long braid of hair so shiny and black, it's almost blue," Harry rambled.

"The Sprites won the league again, dad. Back to back champions, and you said they'd never amount to anything," he joked with a sniffle, as he reminisced about his dad complaining about how the Capital City Sprites always failed in the middle of the World Baseball League season.

Harry laughed at the memory of his dad sitting in their HoloTech box at the HoloTech Stadium, watching Capital City play home and just sulk silently at every pop-up, strikeout, and botched outfield catch. His mother would always stay in the soundproof lounge, taking peeks at the live feed on the HoloTV and reading her chosen book, while Harry and Harold Jr. sat in the stands. Harry still sat in the HoloTech box, but usually attended for the final two home games.

"Business is amazing. Since opening Excalibur, HoloTech expanded even more into the gaming world. With HoloTech technology, Excalibur was able to easily make cheap gaming options for the market because I didn't need a middleman. You'd be so proud of how I've extended the company's reach and how I've built my own company. Our charities have benefited too, so much more profit can go into medical research and orphanages. Today, I am going to visit a new orphanage so I can personally deliver my donation."

Harry wiped away warm tears with cold gloves as he stood back up to his full height. Looking down at the closely placed headstones, he steadily said his yearly prayer before saying his goodbyes.

"I love you, mom and dad. I still don't know why you went away from me but I believe you knew I'd still grow strong in your absence and I did. I hope you're silently watching and you think I did too," he concluded.

With a shaky smile, Harry turned away from his parents' final resting place and walked out of the white blanketed cemetery.

~=~=+=~=~

With the Skywalks being flushed with snow, Harry reluctantly entered the Capital Building garage to drive his dad's old Chevy Air Cruiser to the Renook Home For Children on the outer perimeter of Capital City, instead of taking a much need cruise on his Hoverboard to clear his head.

Putting the car into gear, Harry powered the magnetic hover plates and pushed down on the accelerator. He sped through the garage, carefully looking for pedestrians as he exited the enclosure.

Traffic was moderate as he neared the edge of the city. Harry powered down the car as he parked it in front of the worn down building.

The Renook Home For Children was founded by Lisa Renook, a middle-aged retired caretaker turned Ward. Her parents were foster parents, which inspired her career as a home caretaker for the elderly. Now, without children of her own, she opened the orphanage in memoriam of her late caring parents. Harry stumbled upon the orphanage while taking an evasive route from paparazzi. He apologized repeatedly to Lisa as he took refuge in the home. Curious eyes peeked around the doorways as the toddlers and few teens speculated the tall businessman. Within a few minutes, Harry was sat in the living room, caring for a baby and warmed by a cup of black tea, listening to Lisa's story and the struggles she encountered after having the orphanage for a few years.

Harry exhaled as he approached the front doors. Pushing the doorbell, he stepped back and waited for someone to answer. He looked down as he heard the door open to see warm brown eyes greet him.

"Oh, good morning, Harold," Lisa welcomed.

"Hello, Ms. Renook," Harry responded.

"Come in, come in! It's much too cold to be standing out there," she rushed.

Harry smiled and nodded, moving past her to enter the foyer. He shivered at the change in temperature before shedding off his coat and respectively toeing off his boots. The short caretaker leads the way to the kitchen as she rambled about everything that has happened since his last visit. Her hands waved about as she described a few of the babies learning to walk and a couple toddlers learning the alphabet. She gushed as she explained Marybeth, the oldest of the teenagers at 15, and her first date. Harry's eyes lit up at the sheer joy in Lisa's eyes. He could tell she loved all 12 foster children with every smile. Harry patted the check for 3 million dollars in his pocket. He knew she would put this to good use, maybe even get a newer and bigger building. If she needed it, he would help with every penny.

"Harry!"

Harry turned his head in time to see 4 arms wrap around him. He quickly held onto them and squeezed.

"Hi," came the muffled response.

Harry reared his head back to see the two curly heads of the twins, Ellis and Emmet.

The two identical faces flashed two incomplete smiles.

"Look, look! We lost another tooth," Emmet yelled as they pointed to a gap in their mouths.

Harry laughed at the two gummy twins. "Another one?! I saw you a few weeks ago and another tooth is gone? Who did it?"

They immediately pointed at each other and then glared at the accusing finger. Harry put them down as they began to bicker loudly.

"Boys, quiet down! The babies are down for their naps," Lisa scolded.

"All but one. Oh, hey there."

Attention was centered towards Marybeth, who had a sniffling baby Arin in her arms. The moderately tall teen shifted on her feet as she felt the eyes on her. Harry smiled softly at the second in command of the household. Marybeth was what Harry's grandfather would call her, goth. She had waist long black hair and a striking pair of blue eyes, her outfits usually consisted of only black material and sometimes spikes, her eyes were lined in black ink and her lips were black as well. But she was a gentle soul, if not a little fierce when need be.

"Hello, Mary. Mind if I...?" Harry let on as he gestured towards Arin.

Arin seemed to notice and, with a wobbly bottom lip, leaned forward towards Harry.

"I guess I don't have a say," Marybeth laughed.

The two carefully traded and Harry gently rocked his new cuddle buddy. Lisa looked up at the sight, this is another benefit of keeping an orphanage. Watching two people who generally don't have anyone, comfort each other. She shakily wiped away a single tear and set down Harry's cup of tea.

"So, Harold, what brings you here today? I'd think you'd take a day off because of the anniversary," Lisa softly questioned.

Harry sat back down at the kitchen table and shifted Arin so he can reach for the check. He put it slowly on the table and pushed it towards her.

"Today, I thought, 'Why not make someone happy and in turn, make this day somewhat happy?' Think of this as an early Christmas present of many," Harry summarized.

Lisa stared at the slip of paper with questioning eyes. She carefully picked up the check and unfolded it. Almost immediately, the caretaker covered her mouth in shock as tears took no shame in falling. Marybeth quickly came to her side to find out why she was reacting this way.

"Ms. Lisa, why are you crying?" Inquired Ellis.

The two curly heads looked up at their mother figure breaking down in front of them, wondering why the grown-up paper made her sad. They shared a look of twin recognition and went to hug Lisa's legs to comfort her.

She laughed through the tears and patted both their heads. "I'm okay, boys. Happy tears, don't worry. Only happy tears."

Marybeth stole a glance at the check as she gasped at a number of zeroes. She turned to Harry, who was playing with an unsuspecting Arin.

"Thank you," she said.

Harry put his attention back on the elders and smiled. "It is nothing. She deserves this, as a thank you for caring for such wonderful children. I never understood the life of an orphan because I was fortunate enough to continue to live under my computer interface, but I love to fund these orphanages for those not as fortunate."

Harry turned back to Arin. The budding toddler smiled a gummy grin and patted Harry's cheeks. Harry scrunched up his face at the slightly wet texture to the small hands, which caused Arin to laugh at the funny face.

Harry chuckled. "My discomfort is funny, little man?"

He giggled. "Funny, daddy."

The endearment didn't phase Harry as he continued to smile at Arin. It wasn't the first time he was called that by him and he was the only orphan who did. The correct thing would be to deny it and fix his mistake, Harry knew this, but as he stared into the wide grey eyes of the curious boy, he felt himself selfishly enjoy the title and the joy in Arin's eyes as he said it.