Paradise
The wind whistles through my hair, whipping it across my face. I shut my eyes embracing the sun’s rays. My hand curls around an overhead branch. Fingers sink into spring green moss. Shouts and laughter come from the sycamore tree beside me.
I wonder, is this as happy as you can get? Does paradise get much better than this? I lean back allowing the wide tree branch to support my weight. I let my hair sweep toward the grassy bank.
Then all at once, as though paradise has been replaced with harsh reality; a loud snap smashes the peace, a scream shatters the joyful laughter and a final thump shakes my mind into action. I pull myself into a standing position. My legs move in a blur toward a still figure.
My heart stops; only for a second, but it does. The face of my sibling stares back at me. And although the hair is ruffled from play the cheeks flushed from laughter the eyes show nothing, and are glazed and distinctly lifeless.
That’s when I notice the neck; the pale neck bent at and odd and obvious angle. I close my eyes as tears blind me.
And in my heart I realise that I will never know paradise again.
