April 12th Today was one of those days I’ll remember for a long time, not because anything extraordinary happened, but because of how I felt inside. I woke up early, as usual, to the sound of birds chirping outside my window. The sky was a clear blue, and the sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon. I grabbed my journal and sat by the window, scribbling down my thoughts as I watched the world come alive. After breakfast, I decided to take a walk through the park nearby. The air was fresh and cool, and everything seemed to sparkle in the morning light. As I strolled along the path, I noticed a group of children playing near the pond. They were throwing bread crumbs to the ducks, laughing and shouting happily. Their joy was contagious, and I felt a wave of happiness wash over me. Sometimes, I forget how simple moments like these can fill my heart with so much warmth. While walking, I found a quiet spot beneath a large oak tree. I sat down and pulled out my notebook. I love these little escapes where I can be alone with my thoughts. As I wrote, I saw a small squirrel scampering up the tree trunk, its tiny paws gripping the bark. It paused for a moment, as if curious about me, then darted away into the bushes. I wondered what adventures that little creature had during the day. Later, I decided to visit the old bookstore downtown. I love browsing through the shelves, feeling the pages of books that have traveled through time. Today, I found a dusty, leather-bound journal that looked just like the one I was writing in. I wondered who had owned it before, what stories it held inside. I bought it, excited to imagine the secrets and adventures it might contain. In the afternoon, I met up with my best friend, Lily. We sat on our favorite bench in the park and shared stories about school, family, and dreams for the future. Lily has a way of making me feel understood, like I don’t have to pretend to be someone I’m not. We laughed about silly things and promised to meet again tomorrow. Being with her reminds me how lucky I am to have someone who listens and cares. As the day wound down, I headed home feeling peaceful. I spent some time helping my mom prepare dinner, chopping vegetables and setting the table. We talked about our plans for the weekend, and I told her about my walk and the bookstore find. She smiled and told me she was proud of how observant I was, noticing all the small details around me. Now, as I sit in my room writing this diary entry, I realize today was special not because of grand events, but because of the quiet, simple moments that made me feel connected to the world and to myself. I think I’ll keep this journal as a reminder that happiness can be found in everyday things — a walk in the park, a good book, a kind friend, and being grateful for what I have. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Answer the following questions based on the passage above.