April 14th, 2001
I sit in the old, rickety swing, tied to the old oak tree in my back yard with warn rope. The breeze from the constant swinging ripples through my thin, light brown hair, making it billow out around me.
My legs soon grow tired from the constant pumping, trying to keep myself moving. I relax, then, deciding I'll rest for a few moments before starting back up again.
I stare at my feet, waiting on the swing to stop. I would stop myself by dragging my feet across the ground, but I'm only 4 years old, and my short, bruised up legs cannot reach the ground yet. I continue to stare at my white Keds, now stained with dirt and grime from being outside so often. Finally, the swing stops.
Sitting in the now stilled swing, I glance around me. I look at the butterflies flitting around the tulips my mother had planted around the tree, admiring their brilliant colors. I look at the clouds, watching their slow movement across the sky. I look towards the house, the giant, white home looking beautiful with the advanced landscaping and red doors and shutters. I look at my mother through the window above the kitchen sink as she washes dishes. It amazes me how much life goes on, just in my backyard and home.
I decide I've gotten enough rest, and try to start back up on my swinging. My feet still can't reach the ground, and I had forgotten that my dad had had to give me a slight push to get me started. He was now indoors somewhere, probably watching the baseball game on television. Now I couldn't do anything but flail around awkwardly because I lacked help.
Out of breath from my struggle, I decided to give up. Right as I was about to hop down, I felt an icy hand slide down my back and give me a gentle push.
"Daddy?" I whimpered turning around as I received another delicate push that sent me even higher. But, instead of my dad, I just saw a boy, green eyed and curly headed, who looked a lot older than me, but a lot younger than my parents. He smiled at me, showing off a set of beautiful, white teeth, before disappearing in the breeze.
I began to cry, not knowing who the boy was, or why he suddenly disappeared. I jumped out of the still moving swing, not caring that I fell to the ground in the process. I cried, screaming for my parents until I reached the back door, where they met me, pulling me into their safe arms.
"What's wrong, Madelynn?" my mother frantically asked, examining my body to see if I was hurt. "What happened?"
Instead of answering, I just cried into her shoulder. I would never speak of the boy I saw. They wouldn't believe me anyway.
The first 3 or 4 chapters will be sort of flash backs, but told as if they are happening in the present..?? If that makes sense?? Okay, I'm asking for ONE VOTE for the next chapter. Hope you enjoy! -K
P. S. I have low standards. Take advantage, yo
