No Such Word

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B-bump, B-bump

Over and over I hear it as their blood speeds up. They look out the window longingly as the wind rushes in. Tensing, I mutter that promise again, hoping they hear. Praying their mind is not yet lost.

The school bell rings, the teacher leaves, it's just us now. Alone and frozen as stone. Rumbling clouds break our thoughts. "Ready to go?" I say.

They feign a smile, nodding. But as I get up to leave, they stay put.

Not enough time to mutter out a 'no'. There's not even enough to panic, to worry. As they fall out the window I go after them.

Their eyes widen with unspoken screams as we fly toward our cement ending. Perhaps now, with so little time left, they've realized they weren't ready to die. I close my eyes as if sleeping as we near the earth.

Somehow I know that everything will turn out fine, that there is nothing to fear. And when they finally scream, I let my tears escape.

Splat.