The Smith family, arms laden with snacks and jackets, step onto the bright playground. Emily, the mother, surveys the scene with a warm smile, while James, her husband, helps their three children find their favorite spots. The two older kids, Sophie and Tommy, dart off, giggling, making a beeline for the climbing frame. Only the youngest, Ollie, clings to Emily's leg, his tiny face pinched with anxiety.

Sophie and Tommy are soon lost in the swirl of play, their laughter mixing with the crowd. Emily kneels beside Ollie, offering him a comforting hand. James leans in, his voice gentle. "Come on, Ollie, look at all the fun your brother and sister are having! Want to join them on the little slide?" But Ollie's eyes are fixed, unblinking, at a spot just beneath the monkey bars.

Ollie[/@ch_6], the sunlight harsher on his tear-streaked face. Shadows puddle beneath the play structure, and the breeze seems to pause as he trembles.] Ollie starts to whimper, his tiny fists rubbing at his eyes but never wavering from whatever he sees. Emily glances at James, concern rising. "Ollie, sweetheart, what are you looking at? There's nothing there, darling," she soothes, but Ollie only cries louder. Sophie, noticing her little brother's distress, comes running over, curiosity written on her face.

Emily[/@ch_2] crouches lower, her eyes following the line of Ollie's gaze. The area under the monkey bars is darker, the grass flattened, and something odd juts out—a weathered, grotesque Halloween mask left behind, its monstrous face twisted and staring directly at Ollie's eye level.] Emily gasps softly as she finally sees it. The mask's sharp teeth and bulging eyes are terrifying up close, especially for someone so small. "Oh, Ollie, you poor thing. No wonder you're scared!" James quickly scoops up the mask and tosses it in a nearby trash can, shaking his head in disbelief.

Ollie[/@ch_6]'s sobs begin to subside. His mother hugs him tightly, rocking him gently, while Sophie strokes his hair.] Emily whispers softly, "It's all gone now, sweetheart. Sometimes things look scarier to you than to us, but we just have to look from your eyes to understand." Ollie, reassured, wipes his nose and finally manages a small, watery smile. James gestures to the slide, and the whole family, together, walks into the sunlight, joined in gentle laughter.

Emily glances at James, the lesson lingering between them. "It just goes to show, doesn’t it? Sometimes, unless we look from where the little ones stand, we’ll never see what frightens them," she says quietly. James nods, pulling Ollie close as they all watch the sun slip behind the trees, grateful for the reminder to see the world through each other's eyes.