13 of 100: Another free write.
Why did everyone have a sad story around here? Even him, especially him.
She tried to ignore the way she kept bumping into him everywhere, her eyes lingering too long on his as she searched for something appropriate to say, something that might make him stay. She tried to ignore how handsome he was, how charming his smile was- stop!
He was at the park again with his two daughters, moving between the swings with an easy, practiced rhythm. Strong hands on the chains, gentle pushes that sent them squealing into the summer air, their giggles climbing into the heat of the cloudless, blue sky.
A smile betrayed her. She caught herself and quickly looked down at her own daughter, who was happily scooping sand into a plastic bucket. She was weak for attentive fathers and she always saw him playing cheerfully with them.
“Want to play on the swings?” she asked.
“Yes, mommy!” Her toddler leapt up, ponytail flying.
Heat rushed to her cheeks as she realized how transparently she was orchestrating the moment. She trailed after the girl, who raced across the grass, shrieking with delight.
“Please help meeeee! Mommyyyy!”
“I’m here, I’m here.” She laughed, lifting her daughter easily into the swing. As she pushed, her hand brushed against the warm metal where his hand had just been. The thought startled her, and she quickly masked it with a smile when their eyes met.
His gaze lingered a little too long. “She’s fearless,” he said, nodding toward her daughter, who was already pumping her legs wildly, demanding to go higher.
“She doesn’t know what fear is yet,” she answered softly.
“Must be nice,” he said, almost under his breath. Then he cleared his throat, smiled quickly, and pushed his own youngest higher, earning another eruption of giggles.
They worked in tandem for a while, side by side, each push and counter-push a silent choreography. She noticed how carefully he watched his daughters, the way his smile sometimes flickered, as if it cost him something to hold it steady.
“She adores you,” he said at last, nodding toward her daughter, who was now shouting “WHEEEEEE!” into the sky.
“She keeps me on my toes,” she replied.
“She's lucky.” His jaw tightened, and he looked away toward the bright horizon, blinking against the sunlight.
She opened her mouth to ask, about what, she wasn’t even sure, but her voice caught in her throat. Instead, she just smiled and gave another push, watching her daughter’s hair stream like a ribbon in the air.
The silence between them was heavy, but not uncomfortable. She felt it tugging at her, that mix of grief and strength she sensed in him. It drew her in even as she kept her distance, her longing hidden behind the ordinary rhythm of playground chatter.
Comments
Post a Comment