Hey everyone, im Nyssa, and this is a story that ive been working on for a while. Grammar and stuff isn't the best, because I prefer to just write, ive cleaned it up to a point that its readable, and yeah, I hope youse enjoy the first chapter of my first original story. All feedback is welcome😊

Children where always the first to stare at me. They'd stop themselves as they where about to run past with a kite or a ball, and they'd stare fir a couple seconds, sometimes wave or smile, before running odd again with there friends laughing, as if they had never stopped for some unknown reason. The parents would watch on confused, having seen their child wave, before chalking it down to children being children. And then it was like it had never happened. And I was used to it. It was how it always went.

I watched as families where sitting at tables together, eating snacks and having food fights. Watched as kids went on monkey bars, some swinging through them like monkeys while others dropped half way. Going down slides and pushing each other on swings. I watched as life happened around me, while I sat on my bench. Sometimes a curious kid would wander over, I mean my bench is under a dead tree, and its slightly away from everyone, so it doesn't happen very often, but when they do, they are always nice to me, sometimes they'd even let me join in the game they where playing. And today, today I knew kids would come to me. Because its Tuesday, and every Tuesday, a group of kids come at a 3pm. And they where my friends. I've only recently started playing games with them, because when I first met them, I didn't know how to play, so id just watched, and then , when they left id wander down the streets, finding small rocks, or balls that's been lost or left outside, and id teach myself how to play. Id watched as they kicked the ball, and id try to imitate what they done, until finally, I could play they called the game soccer, and soccer with the kids was my favourite part of the week. I close my eyes for a second, letting my hands feel along the concrete bench under me as I breathe in, smelling the freshly mowed grass, and delicious foods that people's where eating. Hearing the sizzle of the grills that people are cooking sausages and eggs on and the laughter, feeling an ant crawl onto my hand, and a soft breeze flowing around me. It was the perfect day. And then I heard it, my name, called excitedly by a a girl, and it was followed by the feeling of a ball hitting my feet and laughter. I opened my eyes. Letting myself smile at the kids running up to me. They came. Just on time. Like always. The girls still calling my name excitedly, you could tell she was the youngest by the unsteadiness of her running, as she trailed behind the slightly older kids. But she was still the first to get to me. As the others started pushing and shoving each other as they all tried to get here first. The little girl, Avery, chambered into my legs, as if its such a natural thing for her today, and I couldn't help but freeze a little but. No matter how many times she does it, I still find myself not believing its actually happening.

"Sarah, Sarah, guess what guess!" She bounced up and down in my leg, stumbling over her words.

" what happened little duckling?" I question, trying to wrestle to get her to stay still, as the other kids stop wrestling and finally come over, crowding the bench.

I watch as she opens her mouth, and pokes her tongue through a hole a hole where her tooth is meant to be. "I loth my thirst toof!" she said, trying to speak while still poking her tongue into the hole.

"you lost it? Oh no, where did it go! Do you need help finding it?." The child laughed, as I made big exaggerated movement with my hands, making it look like im searching, like I've seen people do when they've lost things. The little girl laughs, and so does the other kids watching.

"No silly, its under her pillow, for the tooth fairy!" one of the boys came and picked Avery up from me, it was her older brother, Thomas. He placed her on the ground beside me, where she latched onto my leg, not wanting to let me go, as she grinned up at me with a toothy smile, one gap missing in the middle.

" the toof fairy take my toof and give a dollar" Avery stumbled over her words, not knowing how to slow down her words in her excitement as she clung tighter to me. I smiled and ruffled her hair, about to speak, before one of the other boys, Asher, interrupted.

"come onnnn guys, I want to play! We are running out of time!" and just like that, the moment was broken as everyone started cheering and pushing each other around again, Katie, the other girl I the group, ducked over and grabbed the ball that was still at my feet, and ran off with it, laughing as the others noticed and chased her. I sat there for a second, just letting the laughter and joy wash over me, and the warmth from the little arms still wrapped around my legs as Avery looked at me with her big green eyes, filled with happiness , twinkling in the light.

"Are you gonna pway wit us sarah?" I was going to respond, but before I could, the others started chanting my name.

"Sarah,

Sarah

Sarah"

Adults looked on strangely, before going on with there day, kids will be kids after all. I held my hands out, "ok, ok, im coming!" I take my shoes off, preferring to feel the grass under my feet. I know I would get hurt by the ball, but its a risk I was willing to take. "coming little duckling?" Avery nods her head. And for a second I thought it would go flying off with how fast she was nodding. "ok then, let's go." We take off running towards the others, at a slow pace as Avery stumbled while I held her hand. When we get there teams where already formed. It was Katie and Asher, against me and Thomas, Avery was on the sides, assisting with kicking the ball back in when it went out. She was to small to play. Avery started with the ball, holding it in the middle between us, she placed it down, and as if practised daily, held her little hand up, showing three fingers.

"free.

Two

One

Go!"

And I ran, feeling the grass underneath my feet, my toes digging into it each step i took, occasionally id get a twinge of pain from steeping on a twig or rock, but it was time for me to prove myself. I've been practising for this game for so long, I cant let them down. Thomas was by my side, I could tell he was letting me take the lead with this game, and that was ok, I can do this. Katie reaches the ball first, and the game was on, you could tell they've been playing for a while, as she expertly kicks it to Asher, and he continues, not even missing a beat, and he came running right towards me, he knew I was the weaker player, so he knew he could get it past me easily. But not this time. As he went to run past me, I put my leg out, and stole the ball. I froze for a second. I actually done it. I got the ball. The moment was short-lived though, as Katie was rushing at me, I quickly kicked the ball, and ran after it, my heart was pounding. The wind was rushing through my hair. My feet where getting sore from rocks that kept poking into it, and from the ball, that felt harder when you where actually kicking, but I pushed past that feeling. I had the ball, Thomas was open, I could kick it to him, but I had the ball, and I wasn't far from the 2 trees we had marked as our goal. Twigs crunched under my feet, I could hear my breathing getting louder as my heart pounded in my chest. I was so close. The goals was right there, Asher was coming from the left, Katie from the right, both trying to corner me to get the ball. Thomas was open though, I could kick it to him. But the goals right there. I wanted to score a goal in a real game for once. Ok Sarah, deep breath.

I breathed in.

I could see myself in the alley way I would practice in. I had 2 bins set up for my goals and a ball id found lying in the gutter.

I breathed out.

I could see myself lining up the ball in the alley, aiming for the side of the bin, so that it would bounce in.

I breathe back in. And adjust my footing.

And I breathe out and as I breathed out, I kicked, and just like in the alley, it bounced off the edge of the goal. And went straight in. It. Went. In!

It actually went in! I couldn't move, I could only stare in shock. It had taken me so many goes to get it in the alley, id only achieved 2 goals there. But, I got it in. On my first go. Everything was a blur around me as I stood staring. I could hear yelling and cheering in the background, and could only just process that it was my group, cheering for me. But this didn't feel real. I finally done it. I could feel tiny arms reach up and hug my waist, and in my stunned silence I looked down, and Avery was there, clinging to me. "You did it." She whispered. You could tell she didn't understand why I was so shocked at it, but she coild sense something, as she wasn't the type that would say something that quietly. I looked up at the others, and Thomas had a knowing proud smile on his face, while everyone else cheered, even though their team had lost. Its like, even though they didn't understand what this meant to me, they could still sense something, so was making this huge. For me. I had actually done it. I sighed softly, letting myself tune back into the surroundings around me, and realised just how loud the others where, they where basically screaming themselves hoarse cheering for me. And for a moment, I basked in it. This was my people, and they where here. And they where supporting me. They all piled on top of me, into one big group hug. Still cheering and screaming, except right in my ear now. But that was ok. The grass and twigs scratched my skin. And that was ok. Ants and bits crawled on me, and that was ok. Everything was perfect. The world was beautiful. And these children. They where my best friends. And this is the exact moment I wanted to be in. Elbows digging into me, twigs scraping against me, all of it. And then, came the voice. An older woman, and adult. Piercing through the laughter of the children.

"Avery, Thomas!," the voice called. The children went still and quiet, tucking in further down, as if trying not to be found. ' Avery, Thomas, time to go." The kids groaned, all knowing that this was coming, but hoping to hide from it. They wanted to keep playing. "come on guys, I can see you." They mumbled and cursed as they untangled limb from limb, all standing up with their heads bowed. There was no point arguing for another game, there mum wouldn't allow it. I could see the sun starting to set already, im surprised they hadn't been called back until now. They grabbed there bags. And I knew it was irrational, and that it wouldn't work, but I grabbed Thomas's arm. Holding him. " please. Please, just one more game." I was basically begging. I don't want this to end yet. It'll be a whole week until I see them next. Thomas shocked his head, smiling a sad smile. "sorry Sarah. You know the rules." I put my head down, shrugging my shoulders. Yeah, I knew the rules, but I wanted to keep playing. Maybe the others would be staying back later. But that hope was short-lived. When I looked up and saw everyone picking up there bags and waving goodbye. "please, Katie, Asher, one more game?" they also shook there heads. Please , please stay, please don't leave me. But they all left. Waving and smiling, Avery came and gave me a hug and then they where gone. Laughter following them all the way to the gate until I could hear them no more. And I was alone. There was a few family's still around, except even they where getting ready to leave. Using my friends as a cue to go as well. People packed up there picnic blankets and toys, calling kids to them and holding there hands as they walked out. Until there was 3. A dad with his 2 kids. The little girl was ready to go, holding her dad's hand already, while a little boy sat in a swing set. Teddy bear in his arms, and thumb in his mouth and he stared. He stared straight at me. "come on Baily, time to go." Baily looked back at his dad, and then at me again.

"But dad, she's sad."

"Who's sad?"

"The sad girl, right there. She looks like she needs a friend."

The dad looked around, and then looked back at the kids.

"Baily, there's no one there, now enough games, its time to go home."

Please, please don't leave, im right here, I am right here. I like games. Please come be my friend. But the internal pleading didn't work. Of course it didn't. The boy looked at me one last time, and waved slightly, before hopping off the swing, and, as kids do he ran off. As if he had never even seen me. The dad and girl followed behind him at a slower pace. Until, they to left the playground. And I was completely alone. No one around. I sighed. Great. What do I do now.

I slowly walk back to my bench, kicking small rocks and twigs as I go, clenching and unclenching my hand as I held back tears. I just wanted to play, and they all left, they all left me alone. I kicked a slightly bigger rock, grimacing in pain as it broke my nail slightly, and I watched it bounce in front of me. Landing at my bench. I didn't realise I was so close to it. I looked up from the ground. And froze. My bench, where I would always sit, where I would always come to. My bench, where no one ever sat, because it was to far from the park. It was concrete and uncomfortable, and it was under a dead tree. My bench, was occupied by someone. A girl. She had her head down in the palms of her hand. I could see her shoulders shaking slightly and could tell that the palms beneath her eyes would be pooling with tears. There was a girl on my bench, and she was sad. But also, she was on my bench.

"um, hello? Im sorry. I can see your upset. And I want to help. But also, your on my bench." Look. Maybe adding the bench part was a bit selfish. But also, I've had a bad day, I want to sit down, and she's there. But she also looks like she had a bad day. The girl didn't move when I spoke to her. I didn't expect her to.

"Hello. Please. I just want to sit down, my feet hurt, im tired, and your on my bench. We can talk about what's wrong with you if you want?" she still didn't respond, and I let out a little huff. Well fine then, I poke my tounge out at her immature. Yeah. Satisfying. Also yes. And I go to turn around. But stop as she finally lifts her head up, raking her palms over her eyes as she wipes the tears away. And as I looked at her, the world stopped around me. Her eyes. Her eyes. They where like mine