My legs swiftly pumped up and down as I pushed to go faster on my bicycle, beads of sweat covered my forehead. A sparkly colorful unicorn helmet secured around my head as I sped down the road. The burning rays of sunshine shined down on me; it was hot like it usually was in the summer on a Sunday. What did seven-year-old me always desire on a burning summer day? The mind of a seven-year-old is always set on one thing; ice cream.

Near my home, a Baskin-Robbins was just in reach. My family walked while I biked on the trail headed towards the sweet ice cream shop. It was a perfect day for ice cream. The temperatures had risen ever so slightly each day of that fateful week. The creamy soft dessert bundled with flavors was the final reward I looked forward to. I hadn’t known then, but the tasty treat would end up being the last thing on my mind that night.

We had almost arrived at our destination. The happiness inside of me threatened to spill out until I heard someone behind us. I stopped pumping the pedals. The bike glided for a moment before slowing to a stop as I turned around.

There was a man; big, tall, muddy brown hair, and pale skin. I never caught his appearance extremely well. My memory is blurry. I only remember how furious he sounded, and how it was almost as if darkness was oozing out of him, ready to pounce. His mouth moved angrily and his body’s movements were jagged, erratic, and aggressive. Words spit out faster than I could comprehend at first, but once I understood, his intention and fury became clear as he advanced closer to us.

He never came too close, and he never paused or hesitated while yelling; always stopping before his shadow could devour us. It was like he wanted us to be afraid of him, yet in reality, he was the one afraid of us. Afraid of how we were different? I was not sure. I never knew what provoked his actions that day.

We hurriedly walked faster along the trail, him following close behind. I had long gotten off my bike, however, my helmet still sat secure and tight on my head. The unicorn and sparkles that were designed across my helmet acting like my protectors as if something were to happen, I could still be safe with them. My mind raced, filled with fear for myself and my family, but also with slight confusion and despair. Why would this happen to us? What had we done to deserve this harassment?

I had wanted ice cream. My favorite flavor of ice cream was cotton candy topped with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles. My sister loved double scoops of rainbow sherbert in a cake cone. My dad loved banana splits with only strawberry ice cream; the other flavors were not fit for the banana split in his opinion. My mom always switched up her order, though it was consistently in a bowl. I remember wondering before we set off what flavor she would pick this time.

It had been a burning summer day. It was supposed to be filled with joy, sweetness, love, and laughter. I had thought about the tasty treat I would soon have in my mouth; sparks of flavor and sparks of happiness inside. However, that thought was replaced by the unexpected events we were doomed to face.

The darkness grew closer. Mom’s fingers tapped her phone quickly; she grabbed me and my siblEing and pulled us back again on the pathway to the ice cream. I dragged my bike along. I could not think about ice cream. My dad left us alone, choosing to face the darkness, to which at this sight, I remember seeing the darkness had hesitated.

I did not see my dad again until we had already paid for ice cream. There were vehicles with red and blue flashing lights surrounding us. I had gotten cotton candy ice cream, my sibling rainbow sherbert, and my mom pistachio. The figure disappeared, but so did my dad, until I finally saw him reuniting with us again.

We traveled on the side of the road to get home instead to avoid anything else. Cars blew past us, their lights acting as a spotlight. It was dark by the time we arrived and I laid quietly in my bed until the darkness finally consumed me.