mini-nano

[orangerful]

She stared at the photo in her hand, the way the light reflected off the water drops spraying out of the fountain. That trip to the park was so many years ago, she had forgotten so much about that day...but this moment she didn't need a picture to remind her of.

Tina didn't know the fountain was even there. Her and Steven had been talking with Mom. She had run up ahead, trying to find some relief from the hot summer sun. They had been walking all day. She remembered her foot hitting the grating and looking down to see the fountain, seeing the little pools of water around her sandals and realizing what she was standing on. She called Tina and Steven over, trying to maintain a straight face, just waving at them. They responded immediately, she was their big sister and would never lead them astray!

And she had timed it perfectly.

As they approached her, just as their feet neared the edge of the fountain, the water turned on and a mist of cool liquid shot out of the ground. This is the reason the moment stayed with her for so long, the shocked squeals that came from their mouths as they reacted to the water. Then the sighs as they felt the cool drops on their skin. And eventually the giggles as they began to splash around.

She smiled to herself, letting the memory wash over her the same way the water did that afternoon, so many years ago. She promised herself that someday the three of them would go back to that park, that she would get them to laugh with her again, and in that moment, they would forgive her for everything that had happened since.