○ and ●
Send me a “○” to have our characters meet 10 years ago
“Don’t go too far, Caroline.”
“I won’t, Mama!” she called back as she rushed into the playground, giggling as she climbed up the jungle gym in her sundress and sandals, her hair in two perfect braids with ribbons tied at the end. Her mother always insisted on having her be perfect presentable, despite the fact that most of the time, she ruined her pretty dresses from playing.
She climbed to the very top, feeling confident in herself, but when she reached the top, she looked down and got scared from being so high up. She never thought she was afraid of heights, but when you’re eight, most things are scarier since you’re so small.
“You okay?” she heard a voice below her. She looked down to see a blonde boy, a little bit older than her, glancing up at her curiously.
“I’m scared,” she admitted. He nodded, then climbed up the jungle gym until she was at the top with her. “It’s really high.”
“I can help you,” he offered, holding out his hand to her. She took it, and together, they climbed down the jungle gym. Once she was on the ground, she smiled brightly at him.
“Thank you,” she told him. “I’m Caroline.”
“Eric,” he replied, holding out his hand. She looked at it for a moment, then shook it before leaning over and kissing his cheek. “What was that for?”
“My mama always kisses my daddy’s cheek when he does something nice,” she explained. Just then her mother called and she looked back to see her waving Caroline over. “Bye, Eric.” With that, she ran off, leaving a boy who would end up becoming on of her good friends.
Send me a “●” to have our characters meet 10 years into the future
“Don’t go too far, Lizzie,” she called out as her daughter went running into the park. Twenty-eight years old, and the park looked like it hadn’t changed one bit since her own childhood. A lot had changed for Caroline since those days. Married to an up-and-coming politician that her uncle had introduced her to, her daughter now four, and the second child on the way. Her hand smoothed over her swollen belly, her son kicking at her hand and making her smile.
“Caroline?” she heard, her head shooting up to find a familiar face.
“Eric van der Woodsen, is that you?” she asked, smiling brightly as she eased her way up and pulled him in for a hug. “It’s been too long. How are you?”
“I’m good. I just brought my son to play around before we have to pick his sister up from ballet,” he explained, and she looked over to find a blond boy sitting on the swings with her daughter. “How far along are you?”
“Seven months. My husband’s always telling me to take it easy, but Sundays in the park are mine and Elizabeth’s tradition,” she explained, smiling softly before easing herself back down onto the park bench. “Your son’s beautiful. He looks so much like you. You’ll have some trouble with him when he reaches his teens, I’ll tell you that much,” she teased, laughing softly. “Do you remember when we were in high school, and we talked about all of your sex-capades?” she wondered, laughing a bit harder. “I was so scandalized back then.”
“And now look at you. I certainly hope there was some fun making your kids,” Eric teased right back, nudging her shoulder gently. She refused to comment, merely giving him a look before laughing again.
“Things seemed so much easier back then… Is it wrong that I miss it sometimes?” she wondered, her hand moving along her belly again. “I mean, I wouldn’t trade up my family, but I wish I’d enjoyed it more instead of trying so hard to grow up so fast.” Eric nodded, wrapping an arm over her shoulder as comfort. “Time goes by too fast.”
“It does,” he agreed, Caroline laying her head against his shoulder. That was all they had left to say, the rest of their time spent together, just enjoying each other’s company. When they left the park, their kids in tow, they both remembered a time so long ago where another blond boy and excitable little girl met and started a friendship that would never completely fizzle out, no matter how much time passed.