A Moment from the Past

It was a brisk morning at an elementary in the little town of Rigby. The name wouldn’t even matter now, the building is long gone. It is now an extensive canvas of white lines on asphalt. It’s weird to see the empty space there. I can still see the ghost of the busty yellow bricked building. Memories surround the parking lines that now cover the very playground where I made my first school friends. I can stand here and almost hear the laughter.Out of all my memories there one stands out the most. My first crush. Even though it was for a day, I probably will never forget it.

She had a pink ribbon in her hair, white aster, buckle in the front shoes,and a perfect smile. I remember watching from behind the slide and jungle gym. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Wind rushed past her as she pushed through autumn air. Her hands held the cold chain tight, white from the grip. I wonder if she even knew I existed. She would go up, blending into the sun and clouds, then down, pulled by gravity sweeping over the wood chip covered ground. Her feet would then pull up as she got ready to pump forward again.

The steam of my breath appeared and disappeared against the cold steal of the slide as I peered over it. She went back and pumped forward. Her hands released from the chains. The numbing air held her up for a moment, and then she fell. She laughed as she caught herself. Her friends all jumped from their swings and met her on the ground. She turned toward me and caught my eyes. I caught my breath.

It lasted only a moment and then she looked away. Light gleamed off her hair as she ran toward the school, across the four square court, and past the tether ball poles. The bell rang snapping me out of my stare. I lost her in a sea of children all hurrying to the door. I emerged from my spot and hurried as fast as I could through the crowd.

She was gone.