Cold Water

EIGHTEEN

     
                     ♥︎ATHALIA♥︎

  After knocking on Brandon's door and seeing the state he was in, I knew I wanted to do something to help him feel a bit better.

  He'd been struggling, and while he wasn't ready to talk in detail about what happened, I could tell it was weighing heavily on him.

  When I suggested we go for a walk, he seemed relieved, and I was glad to see a small smile appear on his face.

  We stepped outside into the fresh air, and as we walked through the neighbourhood, I tried to keep the conversation light, just focusing on the simple enjoyment of being outside.

  As we wandered, we stumbled upon a small, old playground that looked like it hadn't been used in years.

  The sight of the swings caught my eye, and I couldn't resist suggesting we give them a try. "Hey, look at those swings. Want to be kids for a while?"

  Brandon looked at the swings and then at me, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Sure, why not?"

  We headed over to the swings, and I felt a surge of playful energy. We took turns pushing each other, laughing and enjoying the simple joy of swinging back and forth.

  The playground felt like a safe, carefree place where we could momentarily escape from everything else.

  For a while, we were just two kids playing, the weight of the world lifted by the gentle motion of the swings.

  It was refreshing to see Brandon's. mood brighten as we played.

  The laughter and light-heartedness were just what we needed, and it made me feel a bit more hopeful that things might start to get better for him.

  "You know," I said, pumping my legs to swing higher, "I haven't been on a swing in forever. It's kind of nice to just... not think about everything."

Brandon chuckled, his voice a bit more relaxed. "Yeah, it is. I forgot how simple things like this could be so calming."

We kept swinging, and I noticed the subtle changes in Brandon's demeanour.

He was more engaged, more present. The worries and fears seemed to fade into the background, replaced by the joy of the moment.

"It's kind of freeing, isn't it? Just letting go and feeling the wind."

  He looked over at me, his eyes brightening. "Yeah, it really is."

  We spent a good chunk of time on the swings, pushing each other higher and higher as we laughed and talked about nothing in particular.

  It felt wonderful to see Brandon's smile and hear his laughter, even if just for a little while.

  The playground, with its faded colours and rusting equipment, seemed to be a sanctuary where we could forget the heavy stuff.

  After a while, we slowed down and sat on the swings, side by side.

  The playground was quiet, and the only sounds were the distant hum of traffic and the occasional chirp of a bird. It was a peaceful, calming end to a difficult day.

  "Thanks for this," Brandon said, his voice sincere. "I really needed this."

  I smiled at him, feeling a warmth in my chest. "No problem."

  Eventually, I nudged Brandon gently. "So, how about we head back? It's getting late, and I'm sure Aunt Dina is probably wondering where you are."

  Brandon nodded, pushing himself off the swing. "Yeah, let's head back."

  We walked back to his place, the conversation flowing more easily now. It was nice to see him open up a bit, even if just in small ways.

  As we reached his house, I could see Aunt Dina waiting by the door, a look of relief on her face when she saw Brandon.

  "Well, look at you two," she said with a smile. "Glad to see you're feeling better."

  I gave her a small wave before turning to Brandon. "I'll let you get inside. I'll see you tomorrow?"

  Brandon nodded, a genuine smile on his face. "Yeah, see you tomorrow."

Before I could turn to leave, he surprised me by pulling me into a hug.

  I froze for a moment, caught off guard by the gesture, but then I relaxed into it, enjoying the warmth and comfort of his embrace. It was a simple, heartfelt gesture, and it meant a lot.

  "Thanks for today," he said again, his voice low. "It really helped."

  "Anytime," I whispered back, giving him a gentle squeeze before pulling away.

  I turned to leave, feeling a sense of accomplishment for having helped, even if just a little.

  The evening had been a good one, and as I walked home, I hoped that it had made a difference for Brandon, even if it was just a small step towards feeling a little better.

♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎