Clowns were never really my thing. My parents seemed to freeze, watching the clowns play their harmonicas, filling the room with a flurry of balloons.

"I think we should bring other kids to enjoy our guests, right?" my mother said looking for a way to leave the uncomfortable company.

The male clown, flashing a wide smile, started inflating a red balloon. It swelled larger and larger until it finally popped, scattering confetti everywhere and unveiling a large poster proclaiming, 'Free Clown Show at Sammy's.' With an exaggeratedly goofy smile, he presented the banner to my mother.

"Perhaps if we hang this on the door, it'll draw instant attention here."

Without hesitation, she went and hung the banner outside the room. Almost immediately, children from all sections of the hospital began to flock into the small room, eager to see the clowns.

As everyone else was captivated by the clowns, I took a moment to open the envelope the female clown had handed me. Inside, there was a piece of paper that appeared blank at first glance, except for a few gold ink dots scattered across it. The arrangement seemed intentional as if someone meant for the ink to be splattered in that particular manner. On the envelope flap, there was a small wax seal, intricately shaped like an angel playing a trumpet.

I glanced around, searching for the female clown. In contrast to her counterpart, she was swamped, with a crowd of children encircling her.

"Please, one at a time. There's enough for everyone!" the male clown urged, even as he was besieged by the children's eager requests.

A sea of tiny hands reached out towards the clowns. For every hand raised, the clowns would craft a balloon into the shape of an animal.

"I want a giraffe!" a little girl said, capturing the attention of one of the clowns.

With a smile, the clown snapped his fingers, and magically, a balloon started to inflate and morph into the shape of a giraffe. He dangled the string of the balloon over the delighted little girl.

"Here's the string for your giraffe, Elizabeth." The clown said with a smile, handing the balloon to the little girl.

While everyone in the room was distracted by the number of kids gathering around, no one noticed that the balloons were inflating themselves.

Two other kids stood near the door, observing the clowns closely. The girl accompanying the boy caught my attention, glancing over at me with a look of apprehension, while the boy stayed relaxed and amused, his attention fully absorbed by the show.

"Hey kids, come in and join the fun," my mother called out to the children standing at the door. They walked inside the room, merging with the crowd as my mother stood beside me, seeking a brief respite from the crowd of children. "You should try to make some friends, Sammy."

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All the children in the room appeared to be no older than 8 years old, with the exception of the two kids towering over the little ones. The girl walked towards me, her gaze serious and intrusive.

"I don't recognize you, yet you're getting so much attention," she said. "Who are you?"

I was stunned by her shiny blonde hair and the light green color of her eyes. Awkwardly, I couldn't stop looking at her.

"I'm talking to you!" she raised her voice, snapping me off my distraction.

"Please don't stare at my girl," the boy, now standing beside her, interrupted. "It's disrespectful to stare at another man's girl like that."

"I'm not your girl, Jonah!" she responded loudly.

"Mark my words, newbie, she is my territory," Jonah said with a smile.

"You haven't answered my question, mister. Who are you to deserve all this attention?"

"His name is Samuel," My mother said as she entered the conversation. "His friends call him Sammy."

"You have friends, Samuel? If you do, you'll be on your own pretty soon."

"He has us, Ashley."

"Shut up, Jonah."

At first, they seemed to look very serious. I could see Jonah's playful side and the pretentious personality of the girl with the light green eyes.

"We're leaving; this party is lame. But I heard you're going to be our new Cubie," Ashley said.

The term 'cubie' caught my curiosity. I glanced at my mother, who smiled broadly, before posing the inevitable question.

"What is a cubie?"

"It means bunk partner, roommate, and so on. I'm guessing you'll be sharing a room with both of them," my mother said.

"Basically, you'll be living with us in the same room, and just so you know—I have rules," Ashley said.

"Ash, don't rush into things. We really don't know if he is the one we'll share the room with," Jonah said. "We'll see you later, Samuel."

"I think it's time to take this party somewhere else, don't you think Sammy?" My mother asked me.

"Please."

I felt relieved, as the clowns started to pack up to leave. The female clown caught my eye several times with a wink. On her last wink, she pointed toward the empty letter she had given me.

"Friends are forever," She whispered.

I watched, the golden splatter of ink on the empty letter began to move, forming the words: 'Friends are forever.' This surprised me, given that I had looked at the letter before and it had gone blank.

My mother closed the door behind her, leaving me alone in the room. The silence settled in quickly, becoming my chosen companion for the moment. I held the letter in my hands, watching as the words disappeared and the golden ink returned to its initial, scattered arrangement just as it had been when I first opened it.

The door swung open, and a new nurse entered the room, noticeably younger than Angela and wearing a necklace featuring an angel playing the trumpet.

"Hello, Samuel!"

She approached and began to check my pulse. Noticing the letter on the bed, she picked it up, holding it in her hand.

"You got a letter from a friend?"

"Something like that. I'd like to think of her as a best friend, though I'm not sure how she feels about it."

The nurse offered a warm smile. "It's wonderful that you think of others in such a caring way. It really shows your humility."

"I wish I could see her more often, but I understand she's busy. I'd love to play lots of games with her, especially chess."

"That sounds like it would be a lot of fun."

"It depends on who you're playing with. If I play chess with my father, he will always beat me."

"He never let you win?"

"What's the fun in doing that?" I asked.

"Everything seems to be right. I'll give Angela my notes and your proposition to play chess."

The nurse smiled and winked at me, then, before she closed the door, she glanced at me again. In an instant, I noticed the young nurse's face change to the old woman who visited me earlier, right before the door closed.