Midnight Playground
The watch on Ludwig's wrist read 11:57 p.m. He watched several seconds tick by before raising his head again to scan the horizon. The playground was dark; the clouds were eclipsing the moon, making it difficult for it to light the world.
A short story by Daniel Verastiqui
© Daniel Verastiqui. All Rights Reserved.
The watch on Ludwig's wrist read 11:57 p.m. He watched several seconds tick by before raising his head again to scan the horizon. The playground was dark; the clouds were eclipsing the moon, making it difficult for it to light the world. It was also very cold, the season being between fall and winter, before the snow has made its first appearance. The shifting clouds made shadows move from tree to tree, down the street, and off into the distance. Soon, she would be coming down that street. He looked again at his watch, 11:59 p.m. She should be here any second.
He shifted his weight, trying to find some heat on the cold steel of the merry-go-round. His foot dragged loosely over the rocks in front of him, digging stone rainbows in the ground. Ludwig's wristwatch beeped 12:00 a.m. and his head sprung up. There she was. A little ways down the road, he could make out her faint shadow, growing slowly as she approached. He watched with a newfound wonder at the way she glided down the street, her arms swinging slightly by her side, her hair catching small gusts of the light wind. Ludwig stood as she approached and walked over to the gate to meet her.
"Cleo?" he asked, just to be safe.
"Ludwig?" she replied, dragging the 'oo' sound out in the cold air.
"It's nice to finally meet you face to face."