Synopsis: We Fall From Stars

One day in April, instead of grabbing us a swing at recess, her class always went out a few minutes before my own did, Grace met me right as my class went outside. She skipped over to me, her grin lighting up her whole face. She grabbed my hand, her fingers finding the special places in between my fingers that were meant only for her.

“We’re not going to get a swing this way,” I say, biting on my lip. I glance towards that half of the playground, where kids are already running to grab their favorite swings. I sigh, almost sadly, because I’d been looking forward to swinging that day. But before I can even frown, she’s squeezing my hand, and I find myself looking at her.

“I don’t want to swing today,” She says, swaying a little. I watch as her dress twirls around her. She pulls me over towards a tree, one of the few that are still on the playground after they tore some down to put in a new slide for us. She tightens her grip on my hand as she lays down in the grass, tugging me down with her. I tumble awkwardly down beside her, and I can’t help but laugh.

“Gracie,” I giggle, untangling my arms from the awkward position I landed in and rolling to my side, facing her. “What are we doing over here?”

“Sshh,” She says simply, rolling over herself so she’s facing me as well. She reaches over, putting one of her tiny fingers against my lips until I’m absolutely quiet. She rolls back over to her back, staring up at the clouds. I reach over with my right hand, finding hers and pushing my fingers back into that spot. She doesn’t say anything for a long time, and I take to looking up at the clouds, looking for the shapes in them. I spot a flower, possibly a shark, before she says something again.

“Can you hear it too, Lyse-ee?” She says, her bright, sunny voice quiet this time. I look over at her, and she’s still smiling. Her bright blue eyes are focused on the sky above us. I bite my lip. All I can hear are the kids on the playground squealing. “Can you hear the universe, too?”