Safe Haven Park: A Short Story
Every summer, the only thing that I could look forward to was at Safe Haven Park. Liam would come to our picnic place and wait for me to finish eating. We would then go off to our meeting place, where the trees would protect us from the blinding sunlight, and we could build a world that we could freely call ours.
At least once, I would have to turn around and look for him because he would disappear with no warning. He would often talk about the books he read in his leisure time, whenever his parents were off on a business trip. He would discuss interesting topics that inspired me to read more. I would often stare into his hazel eyes as he talked and his whole face would turn beet red. It was fun. Moreover, my heart would race at the sight of his charming smile. I began to …show more content…
laugh at the fantasies I imagined sharing with him.
“What’s wrong?” Liam asked.
“Nothing,” I smiled, “I love you, that’s all.” By the time I heard those words spoken out loud from my mouth, my whole body began to feel hot. I felt embarrassed just by replaying it in my mind. I slowly checked to see what face Liam would make.
He stared at me for a moment and looked away.
“You dummy,” he started, “how could you say that so casually? Saying those words is like saying you want to spend the rest of your life with that person.”
“Oh,” I replied, “but is it wrong to want to spend my days with you?”
“It’s just that I don’t want to waste your time bei—”
“You’re not wasting my time,” I interrupted in a rough tone. “You and I are simply sharing our time together creating memories that I will forever cherish.”
We sat on the fresh-cut grass in silence. After a few minutes, my mom called me to help her pack our stuff as it was getting late. I turned to Liam to say goodbye and apologize, but he stood up and extended his hand to mine. I reached for his hand and took hold of it. His warm palm touched mine and as soon as I was about to let go, he squeezed my hand. After a pause, he squeezed my hand twice. After another pause, he squeezed my hand three consecutive times. One. Pause. One-two. Pause. One-two-three. My heart skipped a beat as I felt his hand compressing into mine. I looked up to see his countenance. His cheeks flushed and his charming hazel eyes gazed into my green ones.
“I would like to spend just one day more with
you.”
At least once, I would have to turn around and look for him because he would disappear with no warning. He would often talk about the books he read in his leisure time, whenever his parents were off on a business trip. He would discuss interesting topics that inspired me to read more. I would often stare into his hazel eyes as he talked and his whole face would turn beet red. It was fun. Moreover, my heart would race at the sight of his charming smile. I began to …show more content…
laugh at the fantasies I imagined sharing with him.
“What’s wrong?” Liam asked.
“Nothing,” I smiled, “I love you, that’s all.” By the time I heard those words spoken out loud from my mouth, my whole body began to feel hot. I felt embarrassed just by replaying it in my mind. I slowly checked to see what face Liam would make.
He stared at me for a moment and looked away.
“You dummy,” he started, “how could you say that so casually? Saying those words is like saying you want to spend the rest of your life with that person.”
“Oh,” I replied, “but is it wrong to want to spend my days with you?”
“It’s just that I don’t want to waste your time bei—”
“You’re not wasting my time,” I interrupted in a rough tone. “You and I are simply sharing our time together creating memories that I will forever cherish.”
We sat on the fresh-cut grass in silence. After a few minutes, my mom called me to help her pack our stuff as it was getting late. I turned to Liam to say goodbye and apologize, but he stood up and extended his hand to mine. I reached for his hand and took hold of it. His warm palm touched mine and as soon as I was about to let go, he squeezed my hand. After a pause, he squeezed my hand twice. After another pause, he squeezed my hand three consecutive times. One. Pause. One-two. Pause. One-two-three. My heart skipped a beat as I felt his hand compressing into mine. I looked up to see his countenance. His cheeks flushed and his charming hazel eyes gazed into my green ones.
“I would like to spend just one day more with
you.”