Every

I've been thinking a lot lately. I've been thinking about everything I did, everything I didn't, and everything I won't.

I've gone to elementary school, middle school, and three and half years of high school. I've had braces, a leg cast, and three trips to the emergency room. I read some books, but I didn't read others.

I made friends with some people, and I didn't pay much attention to anyone else. I haven't had a job. I've never had a first kiss. I've never seen another continent.

I heard sirens. Everyone did. Every television played those awful sirens. Every home heard the president's message. Every mother cried for her child's lost future. Every father mourned his inability to protect his family. Every child saw their future fading. Every person knew.

I've never flown in a plane, but I've ridden on buses. I haven't been to a school dance, but I played soccer.

Everyone tried to find a way to be safe, a way to survive. No one realized they couldn't.

Everyone now sees their days ending soon. No one knows how soon.

I've never gone on an adventure, but I have climbed as high as I could go in the old oak tree until I could see everything and everything could see me.

Everyone thought of what they'd done or not, but no one realized they never would.