Playground
Joelle Esquejo, 12
According to the feeling in my gut, something is off. Wind whirls all around us as we sit
face to face in the playground on the swings, yet his hair and clothes seem unaffected. The
faded blue t-shirt he’s wearing seems baggy on his frail body and his raven hair is sticking
up in an odd but finical way, whereas
clothes are being blown around wildly. It’s
questionably odd, but since we first saw each other, neither of us have spoken.
My impatience is getting the best of me. The question that’s been bugging me since we met
somehow finds its way out of my mouth.
“Who’re you?” It’s a simple question, although as soon as I say it I can tell it sounds rude.
He doesn’t respond, just blinks, surprised. I try something different.
“What’s your name?” His eyes are shining in a confusing way as he considers something.
Slowly he reaches out a foot and gently traces three characters on the ground.
‘K-A-I’. Kai. Short but suitable. I nod, smiling.
Suddenly we both hear my mother coming, calling that I need to leave.
Kai, clearly panicked, jumps off the swing and bolts. Shouting out, I give chase, reaching
out to grab his arm. The moment I reach him I clench my fingers around his wrist...and
grasp nothing. Startled, I stumble to the ground, quickly looking up to see that he’s
disappeared. Tears threaten to fall from my eyes as I stand again; we didn’t truly meet…
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