Nothing made sense.
Her daughter was just laughing minutes ago…
How could this be happening?
The doctor’s face tightened.
“Someone did this to your daughter.”
Silence.
Pure. Crushing silence.
“…What do you mean… someone did this?” her voice broke.
Her mind raced—
The playground.
The people.
The moment she looked away… just for a second.
A SECOND.
Her breathing turned sharp.
“No… no, that’s not possible… I was RIGHT THERE…”
The doctor stepped closer, lowering his voice.
“We found signs… this wasn’t natural. This was caused.”
Her legs gave out—she grabbed the chair to stay standing.
Flashbacks hit her—
A man near the slide.
Watching.
Too still.
Her daughter laughing…
Then suddenly going quiet.
“Oh my God…” she whispered.
Her hands started shaking uncontrollably.
“I left her alone… for just a moment…”
Tears streamed down her face.
“I didn’t see… I didn’t notice…”
The doctor looked at her, serious.
“You couldn’t have known.”
But it didn’t matter.
Because now—
Somewhere out there—
There was someone who had walked away like nothing happened.
And her daughter…
Was lying in a hospital bed.
Broken.
The sound of distant sirens filled the air.
Too late.
Or just in time.
