Jane Doe

Jane loved going to the playground every weekend. Being an only child, there was no one she could play with at home besides her mother. So she always looked forward to going to the colourful and noisy playground so that she can find friends to play with and talk to.

In the beginning Jane was happy playing with the other kids and they seemed happy to include her in their games. All the way home and throughout the rest of the day Jane would excitedly tell her mom everything that she did and all the friends she had made.

But as the months went by, Jane noticed that slowly the kids that she thought were her friends started to ignore her. They formed their own groups and played their own games. Jane would silently stand by the side watching them and hoping that they would notice her and ask her to join them. She tried asking and at first they still allowed her to participate and Jane thought that all was well again and was happy.

As Jane listened to their conversations she found out that the other kids have been meeting up at the playground during the other days of the week and some of them have even gone to each other's houses would laugh and talk about things that happened which Jane was not aware off because no one had invited her to join them.

Jane felt really left out and wondered if there was something wrong with her or if it was because of something she had done. She tried asking some of the other kids but no one would tell her why. Feeling sad and unwanted Jane became reluctant to go to the playground anymore. Her mother was worried and tried to encourage her to go, but Jane would only cry and refuse to go.

So Jane did not return to the playground. One day, several months later, she met one of the kids that used to play with her and she invited Jane back to the playground. Jane wasn't sure but that kid said not to worry. And so Jane hesitantly agreed to go back but was happy for the invitation. She thought that she had made a mistake all along and that they really were her friends and had missed her.

As Jane approached the playground, she was both worried and excited. She felt relieved when the friend that had invited her waved for her to join them. The other kids seemed happy to see Jane again and involved her in their games just like old times. But Jane didn't feel comfortable and welcomed as she wasn't included in the conversations.

The next week when Jane arrived at the playground she did not step inside as she did not feel welcomed anymore. She stood behind the fence and looked in at the kids who once called her friend as they played and laughed together. No one noticed her there. No one waved her in. No one knew she even went there.

And so with tears in her eyes and hurt in her heart, Jane turned around and left the playground. And no one cared.

But Jane still missed the time she spent at the playground and the kids she used to play with. So from time to time she would go by and look in from the fence. However after a while she stopped going by. She finally accepted the fact that no missed her there and all have moved on without her.

She should move on also.