The playground was scarce and empty today. Most parents refuse to take their children to the park when it’s raining for fear they may catch a cold, but two children were out playing. Their mother sat on one of the benches, underneath the nearly-dry gazebo which allowed a decent view of the park. The smell of the rain, the cool wind blowing, the occasional mist hitting her skin, and the subtle creaking of the playground equipment was a surprisingly relaxing environment to read it.

Abigail ran up the steps to rush down the slide over and over again, giggling the whole time. Her older sister, Jessica, swung on the nearby swing.

Their mother turned a page of her book, glancing up again to make sure her kids were still alright. She looked back down and continued reading.

Jessica swung higher and higher, shouting at her mother as she did.

“Mama! Mama! Look at me!” She squealed with delight.

“I see,” her mother responded without looking up from her book. She uncrossed her legs and recrossed them with the opposite leg on top.

“Watch me jump off!” Jessica called out. Abigail stopped mid-run and rested her head on the railing to the steps she was on to watch her sister.

“Go sissy go!” Abigail giggled.

“You ready Abby?” Jessica asked her sister, who nodded eagerly. She admired anything her sister did.

Their mother continued reading, her head down.

“One…” She began counting with each swing forward. “Two… three!”

With the final number, she projected her body forward, tumbling to the ground and landing on her left arm. Abigail began clapping and giggling with delight.

Jessica laid face-down for a moment before she slowly rolled over. She began screaming in pain.

“Mama! I hurt my arm!” She wailed. Her mother looked up, then back at her book, then shot her head up again in horror. Jessica’s arm looked twisted at the elbow. It was most definitely broken. She ran to her daughter and crouched down beside her.

“Oh Jessie baby,” she consoled. “We’re gonna take you down to the emergency room alright?”

“No Mama I don’t want to!” Jessica bawled. “I’m scared! Just fix my arm!”

The mother picked up Jessica and motioned Abigail to follow. They dashed for their car and piled in, speeding to the hospital.