SINcere.

Expectancy.

Beep. 

''Hey, Nicky, how have you been? Have you gotten my card'' 

Beep. 

''I hope you like free hug coupons--'' a giggle ''--I will be coming to visit you soon and sorry that I couldn't make it for your big day.'' 

Beep. 

I sigh as I listen to her voice mails. Leave it to Fey to send ridiculous hug coupons as a gift. The sound of an envelope opening surrounds me as I sit on the bench in the park. A kid runs by and then a black furry dog follows equally joyous. I pull out the post card and see a picture of a giant white teddy bear in the middle of a street. I read the message behind it. Fairly sweet, but it doesn't do much to boost my sour mood. 

'Have a great day big bro,  

With Love from your little sis. 

Xoxoxo ;)' 

Yeah, I will try. 

My heart is beating faster than usual. I take a deep breath before opening the other envelope. It's from mum. My eyes eagerly scan the hand written words in the letter. Mum was always old fashioned. Then I take out the card that came with it. It's pretty simple, but eye catching - her style. I notice that the card and letter smell like lavender. Mum's favourite perfume. My heart clenches in sorrow.  

A ball lands at my feet and I release the breath that I hadn't realized I was holding. Childish giggles enter my ears. My head snaps forward to scrutinize the culprits who disturbed my bubble of thoughts. It's that same kid with a dog. Only this time he has a couple of friends with him. The kid, probably ten years of age, approaches me cautiously, having seen the annoyed expression on my face. 

The setting sun behind me illuminates his dark skin making it appear golden. He stands before me, not knowing how to ask for his ball back. The dog comes from behind him and walks up to me. He playfully licks my hand that is tightly holding onto the envelopes and cards. 

''Dingie likes you,'' he addresses me nervously. 

'' Uhuh,'' I quickly move my wrist away. I don't like dogs. Dingie, getting the hint that I don't like him or her; moves away in an almost offended manner as I bend down and pick up the ball for the kid.  

''Here you go.'' I say and hand it to him. He hesitantly snatches it from me and quickly runs back to his friends with Dingie in tow. Okay, do I look that scary? Sure maybe for the past three months since Eve ended things with me; I haven't exactly been paying attention to my looks. But at least I've been showering and brushing my teeth. That has to count, right? 

Self- consciously, I find my hand on my head, brushing away the hair. Maybe now I look better - less than a hobo. But wait, why do I care what a kid thinks of me? In an irate manner, I shove the envelopes from mum and Fey into the inside pocket of my jacket. 

I look around the park. The kids are gone. It's getting darker. I should go too.  

I hear the park isn't safe at night, but really, it's Locke-Ville. Almost everybody here is completely harmless - almost being the key word here.  

Remember when I said that someone was possibly following me? Perhaps a man sent by Mr. Parkinson. But thank God, in the past weeks I haven't seen that bald man around. Maybe I was just being delusional. It may have just been a coincidence, but still, something is nagging me that it isn't. To feel a little safer, I got into the habit of carrying my gun everywhere I go - just in case. 

My bike is nicely parked by a tree. I hope on it and start the engine. I am meeting up with Bastian, Ai and some other dudes at Casablanca. Casablanca is some low-class bar in town. But before I go there, I have a place I need to visit. Something keeps bugging me to go there and it wouldn't be the first time I have.