The Fall

Grey clouds loomed over our heads with condensation in their flesh

Scaring away the sun that we wished sat there with us.

The brisk January breeze dragged 

on our skin as if it were carpet.

Some cheeks reddened, and some stayed the same.

Turning our heads to face one another, 

we had broad smiles on our faces. 

We weren’t 

        alone, 

             and that made us 

           happy. 

We placed our left hands on the person’s shoulder to our left— 

we clasped shoulders with friends, bullies, acquaintances, and people we wished we could have known

—and held our phones on our right. 

We pressed record, 

and we watched as a countdown popped up on our phones. 

Some of us cried some of us were overjoyed, 

and some of us spit out profanities, 

but together, 

we were all happy. 

     We felt loved.

We didn’t care about one another's 

complexities; we just loved each other for who we 

were and what we stood up for. 

So, as we glanced at the floor below, we only dreamed 

for the screen to turn black and to hear complete silence.

The extinction of our being—to be at peace.

The end of life, the never-ending questions of 

what it'd be like, and we’d get answers. 

If life would end, so be it. 

If we go to heaven, so be it. 

If we go to hell, so be it.

      If we reincarnate, so be it. 

If there’s 

no noise…

we invite it.

5…

The sun found a hole

to peek through

the clouds to watch us

as we embraced into a journey

of the unknown.

4…

We followed the wind 

to our left and then 

to our right. 

Smiling at one another,

filled with admiration and

hope for a new world.

3…

We look at the edge of the building,

the wind guiding 

our foot to hover 

over the ledge.

2…

We held onto each other tight, 

happy to see the sun 

and the emerging blue sky 

a final time.

We only hope to leave 

a better life for others as    we 

1.

         step off 

this 

As our heads tilted downward 

and our vision was consumed by the gray 

sidewalk below, we knew there would be change, 

and we knew our voices would be heard. 

We’d save our brothers and sisters from 

a world that would doom them.

ledge.