I stayed there looking out into the blank sky, with half a hotdog lying on the ground. I couldn't believe he just popped into my life and completely messed me up in the matter of days and then as soon as he appeared, he disappeared. I've always wondered why I was here. Unlike Jack I remembered my past, a bit too well. I'm not believed in, transparent and I was left here with the memory of a terrible death, the death of the most beloved being I could possibly have, and all because of me.

He came here so suddenly, like winter comes and so he went away so suddenly, like winter goes.

I stood there feeling the heat rise back up to my cheeks and my head clear. I really did need him to go away, I was getting sick. But I still felt a little ill, just like every other winter, the weather wore me down.

I flew back to my tree feeling so ashamed, embarrassed of my foolishness. How could I have been so naive to believe that 2 days of knowing someone- NO! Wait!- Not 2 days! A few words: a hello, a mean comment and a goodbye could keep me awake for months and could make me think of him!

I got so furious at myself for being so stupid! You've watched people way longer than you've known him! I thought to myself.

I lay there on a branch, looking up at the few leafs dangling, clinging to the boughs of the tree. I let out a shaky sigh. In the cold air it seemed as if I was smoking, but I had an everlasting cigar, at least till I was gone.

"Where did I go wrong?" I whispered up to the faint sky, as if the moon could hear me at this time of day, as if he would listen. "Why am I here?" I waited for the answer only to hear the wind's howl pass through the park, carrying the laughs and sighs of children and adults.

"I thought you'd give me a purpose… I guess I was wrong."

I lie there stiff from the wood and just seem to trail of in a state that's between sleep and sorrow.

"Ahhh" I hear a scream come from under the tree. "Get away!" At first I thought it was Jack, but then I realised the person shouting had an Australian accent.

"Bunny?" I ask looking down to see a rabbit standing on his back 2 legs, over 6 feet and holding 2 boomerangs focused at a few pigeons.

"Pesky things, these birds." He says shooing them away, to only make even more of 'em come back.

"They like you." I laugh.

"Yeah well," he says looking up with a smile. "Many things and people like me: I'm the Easter bunny!"

"Mhm." I say being amused by Bunny and forgetting Jack for a few moments. But then he finds his way back into my thoughts.

"What's the problem, mate?" he asks, clearly noticing my sad expression. "Are you alright, Hazel?" I met him once before at an Easter celebration 50 years ago. In spring I start to recover from winter and in summer I feel better, but in autumn… that's when I'm really myself. I have met the spirit of spring, too. She's a really bright and beautiful girl with a dazzling smile and this chocolate brown skin and curly brown hair. She has a strong body and a straight back. She's the kind of person who can rock some jeans and a slim t-shirt (because of her perfectly flat stomach, duh).

"Oh, it's nothing." I reply with a convincing smile, but he doesn't seem to buy it.

"You sure?" He says suspiciously.

"Yeah, yeah." I assure him flying down the tree, my head a bit heavy and my vision fuzzy. "I'm sure." I say as I put a hand on his shoulder.

"You are so…" he takes a minute to ponder on how to continue. "Distant." He says finally. "From everything and everyone."

"And you are so…" I mimic his way of speaking. "fluffy. And I am not."

"You sound like a kid."

"So? Aren't you supposed to protect those?"

"Yes, I am. But you're no child."

"You don't know me."

"I bet I could guess a lot."

"No…"

"Want me to try?"

"Go for it!" I say leaning a bit back and crossing my arms.

"Hmm…" he takes his time looking me up and down, which, of course, makes me feel uncomfortable. "A painful past… right?"

"Yes." I say all stiff.

"Which we are not going to talk about." His Australian accent comforts. "Not really believed in…"

I look down at my feet, embarrassed.

"But!" He shouts in triumph, only then I notice that we're the all alone in the park, of course, everyone would notice the Easter bunny hopping around an empty tree talking to thin air. "Someone… Jamie?"

"Yeah."

"Good lad. And there's something more… A boy?"

"I-"

"Don't deny it! Would you tell me or do I have to figure it out myself?"

I shake my head, meaning: I don't want to talk about it. He either ignores it or just doesn't care.

"Is he tall?" He asks.

"Well, yeah… But-"

"Eye colour?"

"There is nothing serious between me and a boy!" I say, harsher than I intended to, but glad to finally shut him up.

"Listen..." He says rubbing the back of his neck. "I need to go…"
"Okay." I say smiling.

"Um, if you want to reach me just tap your feet 2 on the ground and a tunnel will open leading you to my hide-out."

"Thank you."

He started to back away from the tree and tapped twice with his long foot. A hole in the ground opened up a few feet away from him. As he walked to the fissure in the ground he started to sing (howl, whine, just 'sing terribly):

"Call me, beep me if you wanna reach me." He sang the theme song of an old Disney series: Kim Possible. I laughed at his little performance.

"Will do." He jumped in when I was at the double 'l's. The crack closed automatically when he entered. I turned to the tree and breathed in the cold air. Then I noticed something white at the roots of the tree, a mug. It was made of porcelain, with a brown, steaming liquid in it and something written on it. I got closer to it and noticed the design was snowflakes and frost making a note written in a neat letters. I took the mug into my hands and looked at it closely. It was still the middle of the day but I felt drowsy and the ice shimmered in the sunlight.

The message hit me with a warm feeling, unlike the ice it was made of. I started to smile, looking down at it. The message is sweet, caring and above all full of love. He left this for me, he cares, he was here, maybe he still is. I took a sip from the cup and let the hot chocolate warm my body. After I've finished the drink I went to the tree and put the mug on a branch, so I could look at it. I read the message over and over again, repeating it until I was asleep.

Winter… Yeah well it isn't always cold. Sometimes it brings you warm thoughts like a fireplace or Christmas or hot chocolate. So here's something to keep you warm.

Sincerely: someone who cares.

And I just couldn't stop thinking about the last line: Winter, not what you expect...