You've had a rough day at work. Your coworker called in sick so you had double the load today. Your roommate had texted you and asked you not to come home too early. Her boyfriend had stopped by, but hadn't left yet. You really wanted to go home to shower and crash. However, you picked up a quick bite to eat and made your way to your favorite park.
The sun is going down, and you decide to take a walk along the footpath...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
There isn't another soul around and you bask in the sunset glow and solitude. Halfway down there's a bench and you take a seat. You're exhausted now. You let your head tilt back onto the back of the bench. The breeze ruffles your hair slightly and you sigh. You close your eyes for a moment and smile to yourself. You are just letting the breeze lift away your day, and you feel a light tap on your shoulder. Your eyes flutter open and a handsome young man is standing in front of you...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Excuse me," he smiles, "is this seat taken?" He asks gesturing beside you.
You're only slightly annoyed to be pulled from your cat nap. You grin up at him and sit up.
"No, no, help yourself," you nod beside you.
He flashes a broader smile and takes a seat. He looks around and grins at you.
"Nice evening. It could be better though," he says.
You glance at him sideways. You take a moment and notice, he's not exactly normal. He's very handsome, but his clothes are very out of place. Is that a top hat? What's with the giant ring? You shrug it off. However odd it is it seems to suit him.
"I suppose," you say with a shrug.
"Hmm," he twists the ring on his right hand, "let's see what we can do."
He looks at you with a twinkle in his eye and winks. He snaps his fingers and little lights begin glowing all around. Glowing little orbs float in the air like lightning bugs. He chuckles a bit when he sees your jaw hit the ground.
"How? What? How did you..." you stammer looking all around you.
"Shhhhh, there's more to do," he says with another wink.
He twists his ring again and spreads his hands. Flowers with blooms the size of dinner plates slowly spring up and spread their petals. Daisies, tulips, hyacinths, and more form a circle around the two of you and your bench. You gasp and stand up. You lovingly touch a hyacinth and lean over to smell it. You take a deep inhale and sneeze. You giggle and turn to look at the young man.
"Who are you?" You ask.
He removes his top hat and with a deep sweeping motion takes a bow. He extends a hand to you, "My friends call me Ji."
You give him your hand and he kisses the bank of it with a blush. You blush too, "Your friends? Are we friends now then?"
He says, "Certainly," he straightens back up, "I wouldn't make a night like this for just anyone."
"Why me?"
He cocks an eyebrow, "Why not you?" He stops and perks up. Listening he asks, "Do you hear that?"
You listen and crickets start chirping.
"Crickets?"
"Ah," he says lifting a finger, "you say crickets, but I hear a symphony."
You smile and he offers his hand, "What?" You ask.
"Shall we dance?" He asks biting his lip.
You giggle and take his hand. He gently pulls you in and leads you in a dance.
"How is all this happening? Who are you?"
"You know who I am. We're friends remember?" He asks pulling you closer.
This is all so perfect. You just have to ask, "Am I dreaming?"
He leans down and whispers in your ear, "If this is a dream, it's a good one right?"
His words and warm breath on your ear make you shiver. If this is a dream, it's more real than anything you've ever felt with anyone else. He straightens back up and looks into your eyes. You don't care if this is a dream or not. Your mind is saying that none of this could be real. Your heart says, it's the most real you've ever known.
You sigh and place your head on his shoulder, "Yes, yes it is. Perfect."
You're both swaying, but being as tired as you are he notices you start to droop. He starts singing softly to you, some song about a girl as beautiful as a butterfly. You yawn and he smiles and leads you back to your bench.
You take a seat and he sits beside you. He places an arm around you and your head on his shoulder.
"Ji, if this is a dream I don't want to wake up," you say sleepily as your eyes slide shut.
"Then don't," he whispers as he places a soft kiss on your lips.
You weren't expecting that and you jump a little. You open your eyes, and you're alone. You blink hard and look around again. There's nothing but you, the bench, the park, and....a top hat sitting beside you.
"Ji?" You whisper.
You pick up the hat and place it on your head. You sigh and get up to walk home. It's dark now, but you feel very light. You know that somehow you'll see him again. After all, he has to come get his hat.
