"What we could've had." - Original 😧😧❓❓

⭑004⭑

[Cardan's POV]

18 years ago.

Late November 2006.

I sit on the swing after running out of the house. I had finished most of my studying and decided to go out. The other kids make me cringe in a way, they're just common people running around.

I notice a short girl approaching me. Her hair is tied into two low brown pigtails, pink outfit with a strawberry printed bag slung over her shoulders. What does she want?

"Hi," She speaks to me, almost nervously yet all smiley, to which I don't respond. Her blue eyes seem encouraging. "Ermm... You look lonely." She adjusts her bag before pulling out an elephant plushie.

"Wanna play with me?" She says gleefully. I scoff. "go away. I don't wanna play." My words cause her to frown before walking away.

• • •

I'm alone on the swing again after studying. It's pretty chilly, considering it's nearly winter. I notice the girl from yesterday. A few other kids seem to be taunting and teasing her.

The girl starts to cry, and another girl with blonde hair pushed her into a puddle, slight mud getting on her overalls. I can't help but feel a surge of protectiveness wash over me as I get off the swing and walk over to them.

"What do you think you're doing?" I interrupt their rude comments on the brunette now crying, the three girls who were previously bullying her back away slightly. "Give it back to her." I say. Why am I doing this? What's it to me?

The blondie scoffs before dropping the brown teddy, which seems to have stitches all over it, as if mended a lot of times. The blue-eyed girl stands on her feet and mutters out a small 'thank you'.
"You're so muddy." I mention in response.
"I am, huh." She looks down at her dirty outfit, before looking back at me again. "What's your name?"
I blink. "My name?" She nods.
"Yeah, you don't know what a name is? It's like, my name is Claire so what's your name?"
I blink again. "I know what a name is. I'm Cardan." She giggles. "The hell are you laughing for?" I furrow my brows at her.

"I thought you actually didn't know what a 'name' was." She teased. I scoffed before walking away, before she followed after me. "Wait- I didn't mean it!"

• • •

[Claire's POV]

Nearly 2 years have passed, it's now spring 2008. Cardan has stopped showing up at the park. He usually comes around 5 pm and we play together but he didn't today. Nor yesterday. Nor the day before yesterday.

Another week passes, and I still haven't seen him. How could he disappear like this? I fidget with the blue locket, a flower pendant he'd gifted me on my birthday last year.

I miss playing with him. But I'm mad at him too. Did he leave the country? Does he hate me all of a sudden? Why won't he visit the playground anymore? Where could he be? What is he doing right now?

I hope he comes back soon.

˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗

Note: Two chapters in one night? Ainnoway. I'm pretty sure my writing is getting sloppy, but ykw eida close manush chara keda porbe 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️