The swing creaks as a lone girl sits on the seat, rocking the swing to and fro gently as tears drop from her eyes. A young boy chances upon the sobbing girl and stops to enquire.

“Why are you crying?” He asks with all heartfelt sincerity.

“It’s my birthday and no one gave me anything.” She manages in between her sniffles.

He scurries off into the bushes again without a backward glance, leaving her to look back onto the sand in the ground, to cry alone. I must be really horrible, even that friendly boy doesn’t like me.

A lone tear slipped from her eyes again and she was back to her desolate and fragile self. She kicks the sand on the ground, tears streaming down her face once again.

“Happy birthday! Here you go!”

She looked up from the ground, only to see the boy from earlier holding out a pink gerbera daisy to her, his heart-shaped lips curving in a most charming smile. Her face immediately brightened up, a smile stretching across her tear-stained cheeks.

“This is so cute!” She reached out to receive the flower and cuddled in her tiny arms. “I always love surprises! Thank you!” A most dazzling grin was etched onto her face as she thanked the boy.

Seeing his gift appreciated by the girl, he smiled, eyes forming two crescents that made her cheeks heat up. “You’re most welcome, birthday girl.”

***

Two teenagers sit on the swings in the park which were said by many parents to be ‘too old and shabby to be safe’, but they did not seem to care.

“Guess who’s birthday is coming~” She playfully asks as a mischievous grin plasters itself onto her radiant face.

“Hmm… my dog’s birthday?” He replies, equally as puckish as her.

“Hey!” She pouts as she reaches out to try to slap the boy.

“Your birthday is in three months! Even the king doesn’t prepare for his birthday like that!” He tries to swat away her hands that are still trying to attack him.

“It’s just enough time for you to prepare a present for a special little girl like me.” She defends smugly.

“You wish!” He pushes her head gently to the side, causing her to jump up from the swing.

“YAH!” She screams as she chases him around the rusty playground to get revenge.