Page 69 of Them Bones

in the almost

in the hint of Mother’s smile

between a curious child full of dirt, and joy, and wonder

and the Wise Woman, tan and steady.

In all the years behind the camera

only the pad of her thumb in frame

the quiet moment-keeper

a protector of memories.

If we just had two wings and lived THERE

in the almost

we would feel that between here and there

between now and then

there is a call

a drumbeat

deep in the Earth.

If we just had two wings and lived THERE

we wouldalmostknow

that between the ground and the breath

between nowhere and everywhere

Is Us.

Nobody moved. The class wasdeadsilent.

“Um, Mr. Davies?” Marianne said. “Yeah,I’m not going, after that. No thanks.” The rest of the students murmured their agreement. Laney continued staring outside.

“Can we just do intros? Like normal?” Kyle asked.

They played two truths and a lie until the bell rang.

LANEY

Nick introduced her to cocaine.

He showed up most afternoons, like Shane used to. Unlike Shane, he had no qualms about being in her bedroom.

The first time they’d fooled around, she’d been surprisingly nervous. She’d never been a self-conscious girl, but she clammed up a bit, her legs stiff, her brain spiraling.

Nick didn’t seem to notice. He just shoved his hand between her legs and asked if she liked it. She couldn’t help but compare, even though she tried not to; Shane would have noticed. Shane would have talked her through her nerves, working her up with lust and heat until she forgot to worry about her body and was begging for it.

It wasn’t bad with Nick. He’d made her come a few times once she’d started to loosen up a bit. But it wasn’t like with Shane, even if she’d never gotten that far with him. Nick didn’t make her bone marrow melt. But at least he didn't make her cry.

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