Playmates: Wait For Me Site

He always did. He’d pause at the summit of the "Dragon Tail" slide, looking back with a grin that showed off a missing front tooth. He’d wait until her hand gripped the safety rail before he took the plunge into the woodchips below.

He stood up, offering his hand. This time, they walked out of the park at exactly the same pace.

Leo sat down beside her, breathless from the walk from the station, looking at the girl who had been his anchor since they were small enough to fit through the crawl-tubes. Playmates: Wait For Me

"Wait for me," he whispered, not as a command, but as a prayer. "Four years. Just wait for me."

Maya reached out, catching his hand just like she used to catch the railing of the slide. "I’ve had a lot of practice," she smiled. He always did

The playground at Cedar Lane was a kingdom of peeling blue paint and sun-warmed plastic. For seven-year-olds Leo and Maya, it was the entire world.

The reunion wasn't cinematic. There were no slow-motion runs through an airport. It was just a Tuesday. He stood up, offering his hand

"Sorry," he panted, leaning his head on her shoulder. "Thanks for waiting."