Fairy Tale of New Lawke (NaNoWriMo)

Chapter 6

To her right, a children's park overlooked the street, the wind nuzzling a swing. It was quiet and vacant, just what Adaline needed. Sitting on the damp swing, pushing back and forth on her heel, Adaline could almost hear the youthful giggles and squeals as she and her brother begged their father to push them higher. The park had changed little over the decades - the red paint of the swing was still peeling, revealing black piping underneath, the roundabout still squeaked as it turned.

Despite the general wear and tear from years of use and weather erosion, it still looked the park taken care of. There was no litter, the bins rarely overflowed, the ground was clear despite the bare trees hanging over. Residents would often take turns to sweep up any debris so that their children and grandchildren had someone safe to wear off energy. There were never vandalised apparatus, nor did the teens who frequented the area cause mischief or excessive noise. It was in this haven that Adaline allowed the raw grief to consume her in a way she'd suppressed before.

She covered her mouth with her hand and screamed until her throat hurt. Life had become so confusing without Christopher's guiding hand. She didn't know who she was anymore, having spent most of her adult life as a wife. She wished, not for the first time, that he was still with her, his goofy lopsided smile wrinkling his eyes as she uttered another comical response that he adored her for.

Rain fell, as though the heavens wished to console her crying. Adaline made no attempt to move, to seek shelter under the trees or the playhouse to the left of her. The bitter rain gave enough of a pinch to her skin to provide some release from her inner turmoil. The shrill air stroked her arms, leaving goose pimples in their wake. I should've grabbed my coat, she thought as her teeth chattered. But still she did not move.

Going back and facing her mother's well intentioned concern wasn't something she needed nor wanted. Besides, what could she really tell her mother? That while her husband lay freshly buried, her body was enticing her mind to commit adultery? Would it even be such a thing? It certainly felt that way to Adaline. No, she'd simply wait it out until Elliot left and she could sneak to the refuge of the spare bedroom.

Adaline hadn't noticed the young girl, bright red nose and cheeks with her bobbled hat pulled so far over her ears it almost covered her eyes, sit next to her on the only other vacant swing. Hadn't noticed the little girl staring, playing with a strand of blonde hair between her lips. When she wiped her eyes and turned her head, the shock almost caused Adaline to fall off the swing. Clinging to the chains as though her life depended on it, Adaline let out a nervous giggle.

The girl edged the swing ever so slightly away from Adaline, still not breaking eye contact. The elder woman looked ghastly, with her brunette hair plastered to her skin, nose leaking and hands purple. Yet the young girl was not phased. Smiling, she reached out a tiny hand and held Adaline's, her glove providing much needed warmth. Adaline stared at their hands for a moment, her fingers still outstretched, before she clasped the girl's hand and squeezed gently.

"I'm Elsie, what's your name?" her voice was silky and cheerful, as though she didn't have a single care in the world besides what toy she wanted at the shop.

Looking around, Adaline spotted who she assumed to be the child's mother stood beneath a tree not too far away, lit cigarette hanging out of her mouth as her fingers tapped away at her mobile. Adaline wasn't overly shocked. The village was so quiet that it wasn't too uncommon for children to play outside alone or for parents to pay little attention. Elsie continued to stare. Her smile proudly presented a gap in the top row of teeth, the adult tooth only just moving into its new home.

"Adaline," she beamed back.

The young girl giggled and kicked her feet off the floor until she flew in the air, head pulled back as the swing propelled her forward. She looked so free and content that Adaline felt a little jealous. She laughed, momentarily forgetting all that was wrong in her life. Standing, Adaline pushed Elsie, the girl's squeals sending aches into her heart. She'd give anything to do such little things with a child of her own, to hear their laugh and voice as she stroked their forehead and kissed their nose. Forgetting where she was, she held the chain in her hand as a single tear fell.