the little things // n.h.

Chapter One

I stared up in the sky to the puffy white clouds as they moved silently across for another person as the cold wind made my cheeks turn pink. My arms were bundled across my chest, as my light jacket didn't do well to keep me warm. I rolled my eyes at my laziness to go to the coat closet on the way put of my front door. I tapped my feet up and down to try to bring some warmth into my legs, soon moving my arm down to rub it across my thighs as goosebumps scattered under my jeans. I tilted my head down to watch the playground ahead of me, blank and empty of the children's loud laughs and the twinkle in their eyes. I watched the swings fly with the wind, going up a tiny bit to rest again until another came. I watched older women walk with heavy steps in their workout wear, panting quietly as their dog trailed behind them, and businessmen walking through the park as a shorter way to escape the cold. I was about to get up and go home until I heard light, quick footsteps and heavier ones as they ran for the park. I watched the tall, lean man chase her playfully as she giggled and tried her best to pick up the pace with her tinier feet. I smiled as she went up the slide, her shoes keeping her from slipping up and the man grabbing her by the waist and spinning her around before putting her back down, earning a louder laugh than the last from her.

"Come on Daddy, Lets swing!"

My ears perked up at that. Daddy?

He looked a lot younger than my image of a dad. His face was free of any kind of wrinkles, he still looked alive and energetic as her watched his daughter waddle over to the swing set. She jumped and swung so she was sitting with her feet kicking out.

"Give me a head start!"

He laughed and pushed her gently only to send her flying in no time. Her squeals rang through the park as I watched people turn and smile at the sight, even in the cold, dry weather.

After ten minutes she was done swinging and she jumped off when the swing was high, I gasped as I thought she was going to hit the ground, wincing quietly so I was ready for the loud outburst of sobbing.

But instead I heard a booming laughter come from her, I opened my eyes as I watched the man catch her swiftly. He plopped her down and she turned to look around the park to find something else to do.

Thats when she spotted me.

"Daddy, who's that?" Her tiny finger pointed at me as he followed it, getting me in his vision.

"I don't know, sweetie."

He still kept me in his gaze, me shifting awkwardly as I waved. He looked oddly familiar, though I don't remember having anything to do with him.

"Hi, lady! I'm Emily! And I want to know why you were watching me while I was swinging." She ran over to me and stuck her little hand out to twist my hair around her finger. I watched her before she made her loud outburst at me again.

"Aren't you going to answer me?"

I turned my eyes to meet hers, a shining blue-green and practically popping out of their eye sockets.

"Emily's a beautiful name."

"Yeah, I know. But whats yours?"

I smiled at her, and she gave me a toothy grin, I noticed some of her teeth were missing.

"I'm Weslie."

"Wow! Pretty name."

"Not as good as yours."

"I know."

She giggled and in turn so did I, her loud, alive voice asking me another question.

"Why were you watching me and daddy?"