It began its free fall from somewhere above 100
Bobbing and weaving
The white reflecting the sun
As it twisted and turned
On it’s long journey down
Amazing to watch really
Such a delicate sight amidst such chaos
I wondered what was written
Maybe it is just a page of a 200 page report
On the benefits of switching from rubber
To plastic door stops?
Or perhaps a blank sheet of copy paper
Ripped from it’s wrapping
Ripped from it’s family
Whatever it was
It was beautiful to see
I followed it all the way down
91,44,20,11,7.…
Until it came to rest gently in the dust

I must know
It is right there, so close
I must know before I join the others
Or I shall leave this earth with that question
Unanswered
A fate I wish on no-one

In the blinding, falling dust
I made my way to the paper
My eyes never leaving the spot
Past those faces that one can only imagine would look
In the balance of life and death
And I came upon it
I felt great relief in seeing letters
Beneath the fresh dust
I brushed it gently and began to read

Dear Mom & Dad,
We are learning to use e-mails on the computer today. Our first assignment is to write a letter to our Parents. We learned lots of cool stuff in class. We learned about President Kennedy who sounded like a great man. But then we learned that he was assassinated and everybody got real quiet. Why did that bad man **** President Kennedy? Why didn’t they stop him? Mr Turner didn't know why. Then we learned about the Empire State Building and other real tall buildings like the one you work in Daddy and how we can feel safe in them because they are built so strong. Well, it’s time for recess and Mr Turner is going to play touch football with us. See you after school!! I love you guys! Bye, Bobby

My first tear was eclipsed by a great shadow before it hit the ground