We walk outside into the sunlight.
People are everywhere,
cleaning streets,
talking together,
some stores open,
others closed.
What would I be doing
if I were in school right now?
But nobody is at school today.
I tell him about Malia,
and our plan,
and the singing.
He listens like a new man,
his arm around me,
tears coming from his eyes.
Etan, he says, kneeling down,
putting both hands
on my shoulders.
Sorry I wasn’t here with you.