Author: Colin Jeffrey

Sara was sure she had looked away for only a moment. That was all it took. Sam had vanished from the playground. Clouds gathered heavily in the sky as panic gripped her throat.

She yelled his name, over and again, her cries buffered by the indifferent wind. Soon other parents helped search, their projected fear palpable. Police were called. Hours stretched into night, hope atrophied to despair.

Then, as street lamps peppered the enveloping darkness with tiny oases of light, he reappeared. Standing at the edge of the forest, arms by his side, unusually still. People shouted, pointing excitedly in his direction.

Sara ran to him, gathering his precious little body into her arms. His clothes were unmarked, his face almost serene. “Oh my god, where were you?” she whispered through tears, voice trembling.

Sam looked up, his wide eyes reflecting something inscrutable. He smiled, but said nothing. Sara felt a touch of unease, but dismissed it – he was back, that was all that mattered.

Later that night, Sara tucked him into bed, brushing back his hair. “You’re safe now,” she said softly, kissing his forehead.

Sam smiled and rolled over as if to sleep, but then turned back to face his mother. He finally spoke, his voice clear but distant.

“They said you would wait for me.”

Sara’s chest tightened. “Who did?”

Sam paused. “The children in the ground.”

With that, he closed his eyes, and was silent once again.