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of water dripped from her face. Her feet skimmed onto a metal sewage
grate, both feet connecting to the ground for just a moment.

A loud crack split through the air, and a sharp sliver of light
reached down to graze, just briefly, the grate. I watched, my mind mov-
ing in a befuddled haze of slow motion, as a shower of sparks rose, like
a strange, glittering fountain or a symphony of electric notes, rising and
falling in an odd, shimmering tune. Carly's face was illuminated, her
skin glowing gold as the water evaporated from her cheeks. Her eyes
widened, and then her mouth folded as her body collapsed, the sparks
raining down like coins. An enormous boom resonated deep in all our
chests, so loud Ifeared the ground will split open. On the table, the lem-
onade pitcher overflowed, pouring out electric yellow liquid like toxic
waste, as the red napkins stuck like coagulated blood to the wood.

Elle says she never saw what happened; she was too busy try-
ing to tugJoe down from the monkey bars and run the kids to car. Da-
vid didn't speak a word as the paramedics arrived, as Carly is stabilized,
as the doctors explain her comatose state, as her chances at recovery,
split equally down the middle, were explained carefully and neatly,
reading like instruction labels on a box. We stood at the window of her
room, watching the mechanically induced rise and fall of her chest. Elle
had taken the kids home. Iturned to my brother.

He gripped the window tightly, his knuckles white. His damp
clothes oozed a small puddle at his feet. He looked like the one who
had received a shock. He opened his mouth and closed it several times,
as though he was trying to unhinge his jaw. Finally, his voice came out,
rusty and slow: "She was gonna tell Elle about ...about us."

"I know." I felt as though I need to make a confession, too. "I
heard her on the Ferris wheel. Truth be told, Ithink I've had some sus-
picions." His eyes expanded in horror. "You heard? Do you thinkjoe=--"

"No. Idon't think he was paying attention, or would have un-
derstood if he were." David turned his gaze back to the window, placing
a palm on the glass.

"What did you say to her that night?" Iasked, not sure if I
wanted to know.

His eyes didn't blink as he stared straight ahead. "I think-e-I

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