It was a day, just a normal day.

My big brother Carter, who was only about 10, decided that day was the day he would fly.

_Dear Diary,_

_Lily Linea here._

_Its been a few years since I came back outside _

_of this backyard, Its still hard to look at it._

_I can remember that day as clearly as when it _

_happened, right next to the big cave with the _

_big black rocks. My family said that there was _

_a small river in the cave where bad kids would _

_be left, all alone. But Carter wasnt a bad kid._

_He always dreamed of being a pilot, even _

_decorating our room like he was in the air even _

_when he wasnt. We had two swings beside _

_each other on the great big tree in the back _

_yard, and he would always be the one to swing _

_higher than me. Heights, I was not a fan of, and _

_he knew that. He never really pushed me to _

_swing with him, but he really got happy when I _

_decided to. I still dont want to sit down on the _

_swings, and even then, who would I swing _

_with? His swing still remains broken. Dad never_

_ fixed it after Carter died. He never said why, _

_but he didnt have to. We all knew it was too _

_hard for him, too hard for all of us. Maybe i’ll sit _

_down on my swing. It looks like its still in good _

_shape. Maybe i’ll_

_Maybe i’ll_

**_Maybe i’ll

_****_

Maybe i’ll

Maybe i’ll

. . .

_**

“ Carter! Mom said we need to go in to wash up.”

Lily called to me. She waited for my response, and I just gave her a look, she knew what that look meant.

“ Ok, i’ll teh mom that you’ll be in in a minute.”

“ Its ‘ TELL,’ not ‘ teh.’ “ I responded.

She was already through the door, her amber hair was the last glimpse he caught of her, ever.

I looked up into the tree, locating where my swing was tied to. It looked okay, so did the branch.

I kicked off the soil, my hair flying into my eyes.

Today I would be flying, just like dad told me I would. He always said I was his pilot buddy, and that someday I would fly.

Today im gonna fly.

Soon I reached a good height, where I could rip leaves off the tree. My plan was to fly over the cave, and never stop until I reached Germany!

I had all the snacks I needed in my pouch, i was gonna do it!

The orange sky dappled through the branches of the tree, lighting my face with the golden hour.

The warm august breeze flushed over my skin, reassuring, in a way.

I could see the branches of the tree clearly in front of my eyes now, waving in the wind.

My feet spread as the wind picked up, but REALLY picked up. It moved my swing in an awkward position, then I heard thunder.

It spooked me only a little, but that would mean I would be the first 10 year old to fly to Germany all by myself, maybe that would impress Lily , enough to fly with me!

“ Lily, Lily! Look im flying! Im really flying!”

Therr was no response from her, the thunder and winds roared over my voice.

“ Lily Lily! Please! Look at me! We can fly together!”

As quick as the words had left my mouth, so did the air.

The branch snapped.

I braced myself, putting my arms into the air, just like a bird. I was gonna fly! I was really gonna fly!

It took me by surprise when I didnt go up.

Rain poured down on my body, throwing me down.

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down,

_ Down,_

_ Down,_

_ Down,_

_ Down,_

_ Down,_

_ Down,_

_ Down, _

_ Down,_

_ Down,_

_ Down,_

_ Down,_

_ Down,_

_ Down,_

_ Down,_

_ Down,_

_ Down,_

_ Down,_

_ Down,_

_ Down,_

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_ _

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**_Down…._**

Light passed by his face, slipping back into the cracks beyond the cave.

Darkness suddenly felt familiar, now that it was all around him.

Where was the bottom?

His limbs waved through the air, it was a cripplingly terrifying experience to want to grab someone, something, somewhere, but just knowing that it would never happen.

His tears grew cold as they froze to his cheeks, the air whipping past his body.

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**Papa why didnt I fly that day?**

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_I still think about Carter, sometimes. _

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_I wish I could have flown with him when he _

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_would ask, but now . . ._

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_Looking back, I think he did his share of flying._****

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