The park was full. People bustling around and commuting from one side of the park to another. Despite the chilling weather, a couple was out walking their dog...

A mother and her daughter sat on a bench chatting animatedly...

A smile crossed my features. I remembered my mother. I remembered all the memories and treasures we had built here. She had made this city her kingdom, knowing everyone and being kind to everyone. Who would have thought her kindness would have caused her pain...

An old woman watched as leaves fell, signally the approach of an even bitter cold. The old woman smiled to herself as she littered more seeds on the ground. No birds were present to feed on her gift, yet she continued to feed them...

A biker rang his bell, warning me of his approach. I stepped back, and he zoomed past me...

To my left, I watched as two friends argued. The cold wouldn't be bothering them this evening. No, their argument was too heated for that...

I started to cross the sidewalk, smiling at a few walking strangers who waved at me passing. I headed down the familiar path of leaves and grass taking their last breath as the cold slowly snuffed them out. The crunch of dying life around me followed my steps.

The park was full.

It was so cold. Who would bother to leave the comfort of a heated home to come out here?

I tugged my jacket closer and stuffed my hands even deeper into my pockets, if that were even possible. People passed me. Dogs barked and sniffed everything. People chatted. Everything seemed to fit perfectly in place. Nothing was missed, and everything was the same as how I'd left it all those years ago.

As I made my way to the center of the park, my steps slowed. I stopped in front of the stone fountain. A foot-tall rim of stone circled an area big enough to hold a small local pet shot. The rim was decorated at the four cardinal points with four angels sculpted from stone in detail as they blew their stone horns directly at the gigantic statue of a man in robes. He stood tall and proud. A face familiar to all but seen by few and only the few that were looking. His hands were held out, as if asking for a hug. From his palms, a frozen water stream arched before leading to the frozen water in the base of the fountain.

Yes.

The park was full. Nothing had changed since I'd left.

Nothing had changed.

The oak that had made this city park its kingdom, knowing everyone and sheltering everyone. Who would have thought its shelter would have caused its pain...

Nothing had changed.

But nothing would ever stay the same. Everything was different. Nothing had changed but nothing would go back to the way it had been before. The park, was still the park. But not the one I had grown up in.

Knees met stone. My hands and forehead found the rim of the fountain. I kneeled in front of the stone man. Knees met stone. I met this town. Seeds met ground. Friend had met friend. Lover met lover. Knees met stone. Tears met stone. 

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