In Lieuofliving

There is a large ivory fountain in the center of town. It is water shaped—like the Atlantic Ocean or a pear—and not very deep except drastically in pool sized dimples where the older still-children congregate and play "Last One Back's a Treasure Chest!" Which means you dive until the water shatters all your semi-permeable membranes. Johnny says it's like falling asleep but none of us can follow him far enough to feel. Yesterday I kicked down through the thickening blue water. My eyes glued to his teal glowing heals. His last breath hit me like splash in the face.