tragedy finds a home in memory
Sarah’s seventh birthday bash saw Sarah blow life into two big, beautiful balloons. There was no third. Choking. Squeaking. Arms flapping around the room.
Parents, barking across the snow, pleading with Sara—seizing before frozen friends. We wanted to help. ( We wanted to watch. ) Watching was our mistake.
Sarah at 7 ages no more, and the mind’s eye never averts from balloons on a party floor. An awful accident, a bash turned wake. But bearing witness was our mistake.
