It was the way the sun rose--an off color--and blended with her umbrella. The sun was eclipsed, the light was blinding. Her silhouette through a red screen made me uncomfortable that she was growing into the sun. I looked down at her dress that floated in the wind. It was hemmed in gold thread and was only used for special occasions; it always unsettled itself when anyone walked by.

"Don't wait back there," my mother said.

I pulled my dress above my knees and followed her red beacon in ascending the broad steps of the Town Hall. Each step took four steps across for me and almost one foot up, I tried to hurry up these steps with my mother but always remained three steps back. It didn't catch her attention until I fell. The last step had cracke and left meespecially vulnerable becuse I was too put my foot on any stabler part of the step. I caught the first step on the back of my head and cried out because I felt something wet and it hurt so much. My mom was already inside and we were late to the party so no one heard me. I lied there crying until I ws light-headed. I felt a few birds alight nearby and...