Fall hung in the air like steam dripping from the ceiling while pots of water boiled on the stove. Two students strolled through the vaulted archway created by the trees, the carpet of leaves at their feet, their backpacks over their shoulders and words not uttered in school on their lips; words like pregnant and holy shit; like cheating and hate; like love and death.
They were not watching where they were going. The shorter one stepped off the sidewalk when a massive bike came barreling through and whacked the student hard before cycling off. The darker student shrieked out of shock and knelt to the first, worried when there was no sign of breath. The student in the green shirt turned away, frightened that the friend might never share those stories again, when the goth student’s head raised itself from the road and the student stood up groggily. With support, they both continued into town along the sidewalk.
People in town stared at them as they walked beside the tall buildings. Suddenly, a screech overhead alerted them that something was happening as a scaffolding platform came crashing down around them. The fatter student moved out of the way quickly but the student in jeans fell under the platform. Feet shuddered, then quieted. The athletic student stumbled back as people descended onto the sidewalk. People too quick with words; words like no good and damn teenager; like trouble and hate; like life and death.
The penultimate student turned as if to run away when shouts were heard. The gathered crowd lifted the platform and raised the withered student to standing, however haphazardly. The puckish student with hands raised overhead howled, in pain or defeat, no one knew. They embraced, student to student, and moved down the walkway holding each other with their arms and their eyes.
The sun attempted to shine down on them like a single 40 watt bulb in a master bedroom. The pair turned the corner unaware of the portentous glares directed at them. Others on the street shifted to watch them walk away, the children with the burden of youth upon them, stagnated by the need to age faster.
