VISUAL PROMPT
by Annie Spratt @ Unsplash

Write a story where an important scene takes place in an outdoor play area.
Old Memories and New Beginnings
“Where are we going?” Allie giggled.
“Just on a walk.”
“Max, it’s freezing!”
“Pfft. Throw on a jacket. Just because it’s below sixty degrees does not qualify as freezing Miss Texas.”
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever Mister South Dakota. Normal people don’t consider forty five degrees as warm either.”
Max threw the car in park.
“You’re lucky I brought a vest.”
“I’ll be sure to thank my lucky stars, now let’s go.” Max jumped out and walked over to her side of the car to open the door. “Breath in that fresh beautiful autumn air.”
Allie looked up at him threw her lashes as she took his hand and got out of the car.
For a while they just walked in peaceful silence. Only the rustling of the leaves, chattering of the migrating birds, and the gentle slosh of the river echoed around them. As they traveled farther down the path they could hear the laughter of kids floating through the trees.
Allie felt a tug on her heart strings. It felt like just yesterday that she had taken her little cousin to this same park during vacation those two years ago, in hopes of giving her the same kind of memories that Allie held onto so dearly.
“What?” Max looked down at her with a slight grin.
“Huh?” Allie was brought back to the present.
“You were smiling, what were you thinking about?”
Allie let the grin fill her face. She was thinking about the time that she first met him at this playground, and the few and far meetings between them and now. Oh how things have changed…
“Allie! Wanna play floor is lava?” Hannah hollered.
“Sure!” Allie jumped off the swing and joined the rest of her friends under the playset.
“So I came up with a version of the floor is lava where someone has to run around and tag people.” Max looked at everyone, proud of his idea.
“So lava tag!” Jackson offered.
After many giggles and falls and a few scrapped knees, several of the other kids went home.
“Are you leaving too?” Max came up to Allie and asked.
“No. I want to stay for a while. I have to leave again tomorrow. This time Mommy and Daddy say that we might not come back.” Allie kicked the dust as she swayed in the swing.
“That sucks.” Max sat on the swing next to her. “I like you, I don’t want you to go.”
Allie shrugged. “I’m only seven so I probably will never be able to come back because I’m scared to go on a plane by myself.”
“Well I’m eight so I’ll come get you back because I’m not scared of planes and I’m older.”
Allie face instantly broke into a smile. “Yes yes! I love that idea!”
“Now we have a plan.” Max high fived Allie. “I promise that I’ll bring you back here even if your parents don’t let you.”
Allie grinned…
“Us.” She scrunched her nose and smiled wide then gave him a quick kiss.
“You know I love you right?” His eyes searched her face as if he couldn’t get enough of her.
“Well that’s good because I love you too.”
They rounded the corner to the play set. Kids ran up and down the slides and ladders.
“Watch out! You almost touched lava!”
A little girl let out a sound that could have passed for a screech or a laugh as she climbed back up the slide.
“That was us once upon a time.” Allie squeezed Max’s hand.
“Maybe it still is.” Max kept ahold of her hand and dragged her down the slight hill towards the playground.
“Max!” Allie couldn’t help but giggle as he took her to the swings that somewhat looked over to the river.
“I don’t know if I ever truly realized how beauty and peaceful it was here.” Allie smiled as she sat into one of the swings.
“Life seemed so much simpler back then.” Max smirked.
“It really was. You could make a friend almost everywhere you went, hardly had to think about what could go wrong, life seemed so straightforward.”
Max nodded as he sat in the swing next to her. “No one can split us apart now though.”
“What do you mean?” Allie questioned him.
“You’re parents can’t decide where you go and where you leave. Plus you’re not scared of planes anymore which helps.” Max couldn’t help but laugh a little at himself.
Allie’s jaw dropped. “Hey! I was seven alright!” She playfully punched him in the arm.
“All I’m saying is that we can be together forever. No one and nothing has to get in our way.”
“I wouldn’t trade that for the world.” Allie pulled their swings closer and kissed Max. As much as she might want to turn back the clock, nothing was worth losing something as precious as Max and his love for her.
Max took her hand and his and stood up, she mirrored his movement.
“That’s good because…” Max bent down and adjusted on the mulch until he was on his knee with a small box in his hands. “Allie, I never want to spend another day of my life without you.” He flipped open the box to reveal the ring. “I want to always be the one to bring you back, to make life simple again. I love you and couldn’t imagine a better way of spending a life than one with you by my side. Allison Holman, will you marry me?”
Allie’s mind spun. “Yes,” it almost came out as a whisper. “Yes! Oh my gosh yes!!” Allie lunged at him. “Oh my gosh!!” She couldn’t even stay still as he slid the ring in her finger. She look straight into his clear blue eyes and cupped his face in her hands and kissed him. “I’ll go on a walk with you anytime, no matter the weather.”
The both of them burst into laughter in each others arms on that very same playground they had played on all those years ago.