timing right. Though, after a few attempts, she started to get the rhythm. F orward and back. Forward and back. Forward and back, she said to herself as her tiny body slowly gained altitude. With each pump of her legs Francesca became more and more confident. Her petite frame started to lift from the seat with every swift swing back and forth. The more she swung, the higher and higher she got; and Teresa started to fade smaller and smaller. Now Francesca was scared, and if she could see Nonna Teresa’s face, she would definitely look scared too. Francesca never got this high up and didn’t know what to do. Her short legs weren’t able to reach the ground to let her use her toe-tips as breaks. The park was extra loud today, Francesca and Teresa would not be able to hear each other despite being feet apart. Nonna Teresa walked in front of the swings so she was visible to Francesca but safe from being hit from the pen - dulum. At this point Francesca thought she was going to yell at her to stop or slow down, but that wasn’t the case at all. Despite traveling at what felt like a dangerous speed, Francesca could still see Teresa’s grin. With each swing back into view it seemed to get wider and wider. Francesca was still scared of the vertical danger she seemed to get herself into, but seeing Nonna Teresa smile and not be scared made her feel at ease. Regardless of her fear, Francesca was still pumping her little legs; if Teresa was ok with it so was she. She never jumped before. That was for the experienced kids. She watched them every time they came to the park but was never able to muster up the courage to let go and trust that her little legs would catch her. But she was halfway there this time, she was as high up as possible, higher than ever before, now she just needed that extra push. It was as if Teresa knew what she was thinking, because the next time they made eye contact, Teresa was nodding. Francesca felt her encouragement through the twinkle in her happily squinted eyes. With each pump, Francesca’s voice in her head got louder and louder. Just do it, common, you go it, just jump. Then it happened. That split second when you make the decision to jump, and your weight leaves any type of safety. You pray that you made the right decision. Francesca’s hair floated above her head and with each second, she was in the air she felt like she was still floating up, instead of down. She no longer
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