Time Stands Still
Late autumn colours the pathway gold as his footsteps echo out across the deserted playground. He pauses a moment before choosing the swing second from the left, dragging his right foot ever slightly over the rubberized matting, trailing through the leaves. His three piece suit a stark contrast against the bold plastic castle looming ahead. A single dewdrops falls from the metal support to form a tiny pool, scant inches from where he laid his satchel.
He is the point man. Details Matter.
He hasn't dreamt in 15 years. At night he lies alone, between two sheets of crisp white linen and listens to dull hum of the traffic passing down 42nd street. When he closes his eyes, the world falls into darkness.
This park is his favourite place to think. He doesn't feel comfortable in crowds, preferring to work in silence. It's easier to notice the details this way- especially when there are so many thoughts filling his head.
It's been 3 months now since he finished on his last job, 3 months since he last saw her. Every day since the world has approached one step closer towards being completely grey, and the silence is starting to crush him.
She has called 5 times. But he's never answered, he has no words. Even though her voicemails are getting more insistent, he knows she is starting to presume he's lost.
Maybe he is.
Last night she cried. He heard her gasp out her love for him, blinded by the grief of her loss. He couldn't hold back any longer and hit the redial button, three keys down, four from the left. The phone rang out twice before she picked up.
He had no doubt she recognized the caller ID. She didn't need to say anything. He apologized smoothly, claiming he'd been out of town on Business. She knew he was lying.
He only uttered 4 more words before hanging up.
"I love you Ariadne."
She clutched the phone to her chest as she dropped to her knees. Salty tears stained her face, the rough carpet burned her soft skin, but through her mask of grief she felt nothing. Somehow knowing it was real only made the pain stronger.
One day later her mobile signalled an incoming message. It contained only an address, her curiosity leads her straight to the site. Looking up in the sky she saw the last two golden leaves intertwined in a spiral descent, falling from the nearest branch of the largest Maple in the park.
She heard footsteps approaching, crunching through dried leaves. They carried a precision she would once have not noticed.
Turning around, she found herself wrapped in his arms. For the two of them, just for a moment - time stood still.