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.