A sudden urge to revisit the haunts of her childhood. It has been many years. She made her way through the long-forgotten path. Anticipation and longing fills her being as she reaches the well-used playground. Whispers, secrets, laughter, tears, cries, war, painted faces, glee, Satisfaction, screams, breathlessness. All these engulf her senses. Walking slowly, she reaches out her hand to touch the swing. The cool metal of the chains, the strong study seat and supports. Glancing around, ghosts of the children past materialize. She sees her small self running around without a care in the world. She starts forward as her younger self falls. But she got up and continued the game. That pain was nothing. A smile tugs at the corner of her lips as she witnesses: promises made, friendships forged, seemingly everlasting joy. Little did they know that all these wouldn't last forever. Ignorance. RING!! Her phone rings. The spell is broken and she watches in dismay as those ghosts disappear. "No!" she cries, but they don't notice her. Disheartened, she answers the call. "Where Are You?! It's Late!! Come home now!" With a heavy sigh, she says "I'm coming now." She turns to leave. Her younger self is standing in front of her, looking up at her. She didn't leave, not yet. She knelts down, yearning and time filling the gap. Her younger self puts a ghostly hand against her cheek. She closes her eyes as a breeze caresses her face. Reaching up she puts her own palm against her cheek, and is surprised to find tears. Opening her eyes, she sees her younger self smiling. It starts raining and she's soaked to the skin. She watches as her younger self vanishes with a laugh. She leaves the playground without looking back. Satisfied for this one chance to revisit the haunts of her past, yet wishing it would all change. Life's not a fairytale. Happily-ever-afters are not the endings. They are the beautiful moments we experience daily. Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero - "seize the day and place no trust in tomorrow"