He Knew

He knew.

As soon as he saw those bright brown eyes. As soon as he took in that warm, energetic smile. There was nothing in the little girl before him that he did not recognize.

It had been four years since he'd been back home, and this girl was probably around three years old.

Looking at her stirred old memories, opened old wounds. A fresh, new one came to life alongside them.

She was exactly as he would have imagined her to be.

"Nacacia! Don't go off too far!"

And even the name was the same.

His instincts- his fear- told him to make himself scarce. This chance meeting in the park left him with few places to go, but he managed to sneak himself behind a tree just in time.

A happy-looking couple came up behind the girl, arm-in-arm, oblivious to anything but bliss. Nacacia returned to her mother's side, as she should.

He felt awkward, stupid, as he watched the loving family laugh together while they walked.

The little girl, Nacacia, was never still. She'd run off and return, run off and return, expending her energy in the boundless way children do. The couple, trailing behind at their own leisurely pace, didn't seem to mind.

He knew their faces, all their faces. Even Nacacia, who he'd seen for the first time only moments ago. Because she had their features.

His smile.

Her eyes.

His hair.

Her laugh.

They continued walking happily along, and as he watched them disappear around a bend, his legs lost strength and he crumpled to the ground like a deflated balloon.

They continued walking contentedly along, and as he listened to their voices fade into the rustling leaves, his heart crushed itself into oblivion like a black hole.

He'd been gone four years, but it had only taken one second.

He knew.