5:06

The shouting

starts.

Malia’s skin

is white with plaster dust,

her face like a ghost.

Grown-ups

pour into the room,

scoop up kids,

and disappear.

 

 

Etan, we need to get outside.

Malia pulls me up

and we step over

what was,

just a few seconds before,

a table with juice and cookies.

We step between twisted light fixtures

and broken glass.