The day you died

who is that? Who is racing ahead of me? Is that a boy or a girl?

My name is Leslie.

Leslie can be a boy or girl name.

Pleased to meet you. I live under the water. I’m a girl.

No, you don’t. You can’t live in the sea.

Yes I do. Do you see the shimmering blue lights reflecting through the window of the sea?

Wait. I do see it. I feel like I’m dreaming and never waking up. Drowning. But I can still breathe.

Do you smell the salty smoke coming from the hot air? The sea is rumbling like an ancient volcano.

You beat me in the big race. I practiced that sprint for days. Girls shouldn’t beat boys.

Girls and boys can race and I can beat you. I did.

Let’s go past this swing and go to the creek.

I love your pictures, you’re a true artist, Jesse. I’ll swing over and we can be king and queen.

That’s silly.

Now see those hedges and those trees? See the mountains and streams. See our kingdom.

We are here together, Leslie. I’m here with you, we are not going anywhere.

Don’t throw us away.

I wouldn’t.

I’m going early to the bridge.

Ok. I’m gonna go later. Maybe later.

Leslie, stop! I would not have stayed with my teacher if I had known…

I wish I could’ve saved you. Oh God, Leslie. The day you died, I died. I keep picturing the rope breaking and you falling. I can’t get it out of my heart, it’s breaking and cracked like a large bell. I can’t hear your voice.

“I’m here, Jesse. I’m here.”