By the Boathouse a conversation between three friends began. It started by the green pond with lily pads and ripples caused by tiny bugs. The algae slowly move from one side to the other. And surrounding the three friends are little groups of people all stuck in their own worlds.

Despite the obvious separation from these strangers, as in not knowing anything about their lives, not even their names, the three friends and everyone else became an amalgamation of everything around them. Together, everyone functioned like the different parts of a stage set, each stranger playing well into their role as the backdrop of an afternoon by the boathouse. Here, the three friends embrace the scene, playing into their characters as the three young women standing by the boathouse leaning on the masonry surrounding the pond.

Lost in their own conversations and ignorant of the worlds of the strangers around them, it was asked, “what is one piece of advice you can give?”

The first friend spoke, “Your words and thoughts are powerful as you become what you say and think. So, think well of yourself and your world; you can always find the good in anything.” She said this softly.

The next friend went down the line. She said, “Always be kind and loving because it makes life easier and softer. Life is better when all you do is love.” She said this with a smile.

Last, the third friend went, “Never think too hard about things. Sometimes it’s good to have an empty head.” She finished and a monarch landed on her shoulder.

Together the three friends peered off into the pond. The atmosphere was analogous to being transported into a Monet painting. Pastel greens spilled onto every inch around the pond, whether it be the trees or the algae or the water or the lily pads or the bridge rusting into a light shade of apple green. And when a swan appeared and floated beneath the rusting bridge, its’ white feathers shone bright like the sun’s reflection off of a mirror.

The then clock struck 6:45 PM and the three friends exited the stage moving to the next scene. Now new friends took their place by the boathouse and a new conversation began.

A sweet memory it was, it tasted like sunlight.