Long Way Down — No. 1: Screaming

THINGS THAT ALWAYS HAPPEN WHENEVER SOMEONE IS KILLED AROUND HERE

NO. 1: SCREAMING

Not everybody screams.

Usually just

moms,

girlfriends, daughters.

In this case it was Leticia,

Shawn’s girlfriend,

on her knees kissing his forehead

between shrieks.

I think she hoped

her voice would

somehow keep him alive,

would clot the blood.

But I think she knew

deep down in the

deepest part of her downness

she was kissing him good-bye.