Wounds (HHJ)

2002

THE SANDBOX

There's this precious girl, 

always playing in the sandbox,

 all alone.

She was so tiny, round, and sweet. I'd always gaze at her build sandcastles all on her own, wondering why such an adorable baby like her had no friends. She cooed to herself curiously every time as she watched the sand in her bucket form a little castle, I couldn't help but find her so intriguing.

 One afternoon, she was playing in the sandbox on her own once again. This time, I quietly waddled my short legs over to her and watched her play with the sand for a moment until she looked up at me, only to plop herself down onto her bottom. She tilted her head to the side, giving me a gummy smile. I softly smiled back, now crouching down to her level, and held my hand out to her.

"Hello, I'm Hyunjin!"

I chuckled, watching her take my fingers and play with them in her small hands. She softly cooed and tilted her head once more as she scanned my face. Perhaps she pondered if I was a daycare attendant or a friend. I couldn't help but grin even wider all due to her adorable round cheeks. I carefully scooted her closer to me and sat down on the cold sand with her. I held her hand and softly pinched her cheek with my other.

"What's your name, precious?"

I spoke softly baby-talked, expecting her to reply in words, except she just- babbled? She was speaking the baby's language as well! I laughed as she cooed, and blew spit bubbles trying to speak back to me. She started squealing excitedly and slammed her palm onto my nose. I flinched and whined a little until she squeezed my nose. 

"Ouch! That hurts!"

She flinched as soon as I reacted, and backed away a little with her giggly smile vanishing. She hooked her index fingers together and began sniffling with tears forming at the brink of her lower eyelids. I started to worry, what if she started to cry so loudly, that the teachers would get me in trouble?

"Hey! Hey! Don't cry!"

I pulled into a soft hug, trying to remember what my mum would do with my baby sister whenever she was crying. I softly rubbed the baby's back and felt her calm down in my arms. She was so warm and snuggly. I pulled her away from me and smiled as she blinked down at me with a soft pout.

"Well- since you can't tell me your name.."

I went off into a trance of deep thought, trying to think of a nickname my father would call my mother. I laughed to myself, thinking of a pleasant nickname for this cutie pie I'm holding.

"I'm going to call you 'sweetheart'!"

I singsonged, watching her pout form into a cheeky smile as she bent her knees up and down excitedly. Her two tiny pigtails bounced as she laughed a little. It was like she understood me, I couldn't help but feel my heart melt in her presence. I held her tiny hands in mine and asked her a question, eagerly wanting a response.

"Well then, little sweetheart, will you be my friend?"

As if she completely understood my words, she launched her tiny body onto my short 4-year-old frame and squealed, excitedly. Sweetheart held onto my sweater tightly and cooed at me once again.

I took her response as a yes.