This dense forest now seems deserted after brown leaves have fallen in the wind. Finally they all come to rest not far from their roots. There are some small animals left behind, looking forlorn and lost, still roaming this empty place. An orphan like me has no root to go back to, only a place that means something to me and here it is, a stone cottage in secluded woodland. The way it sinks in the ground, heavily tilting sideway like a stumbled old lady about to fall, really shows its age.

At night, I’ve never felt alone here, everything comes to life, the scent of wild roses nearby gets stronger and sometimes I hear people humming with sweet music. Tonight is my birthday, I have one special wish that has never come true but I’ll wait here until then.

The cold wind is whistling at the windows, calling out my name when the front door suddenly opens to reveal a lady in black standing in the dark outside. Her black veil covers almost half of her body. I feel the need to welcome her. It’s the least I can do on my birthday. As I approach her I can see there are more people in the garden. I recognize them as friends and acquaintances from the past. They lift their glasses to toast me as they cheer but I can not hear a sound.

I learned long ago that not everyone has a destiny in life. Many of us just exist through our time with all the mundane routines. It’s a kind of stability no one wishes upon oneself. I searched through life because I believed I was destined for something better. Perhaps that was my destiny, to chase a dream like a dog and its tail. While I was drifting through jobs and places, I got to know many good and bad people and some of them became friends. No one is totally good or bad. I’ve outlived them all. It’s the curse of old age.

“Hello Jack. You’ve been expecting me,” said the lady.

“I know you would come some day but what took you so long?”

“Everything that happens doesn’t always happen for a reason. A reason is something we give to it afterwards. Many things happen because the condition is right,” she replied.