It only takes a split second.

H is crawling around and pushing twigs through the holes on the platform of the play structure. I am standing right next to him.

Look, Michael, says a nearby father to his son. There’s Daniel. Run and say hello.

Michael looks. I look. Daniel is approaching the playground, holding his father’s hand, grinning. Daniel waves at Michael.

I look back at H. He is tipping backwards off the play structure, falling, looking up at me. The bounce as he lands on his back on a bed of wood chips is tiny but perceptible.

It was maybe 2 feet, but it was 2 feet too far.

It only takes a split second.