For Ralphy, because I laughed at you.

Kennedy Keller was standing on her tip toes, peering out the window at the Susquehanna River. It was March 18th, exactly 4 months and 8 days from her 15th birthday, and just over 45 minutes since her brother had promised he would pick her up.

Ralphy, the handicapped boy, was in the foyer just across the hall from her. He was leaning on the door frame for support, staring out at the parking lot. It seemed as if he'd been forgotten as well but Kennedy didn't bother to ask. He was sort of a looming presence at Dugin High and no one, not even the teachers, seemed to pay him much mind.

"H-Hey Kennedy," he had mustered up the courage to say just a few minutes ago.

That's when she had turned around and noticed him standing there.

"Oh, hey," she mumbled, feigning interest.

She swung back around slowly and positioned her face against window so that she could see her reflection. Her mousy-brown hair hung over her face and the light seemed to wash out her freckles. "If I could stay in this world," she thought of her reflection, "I would be admonished." She let out small giggle and leaned further into the cool pane of glass.

To her surprise, it nudged forward a little bit. Curious, she pushed harder and was met with no resistance. The window swung right open, and she stumbled clumsily, searching for something to hold on to. She grasped for the sill, a futile effort to save herself, but it was no use. Her grip slipped and she found herself falling.

Kennedy closed her eyes. If this was it, she was sorry for whoever would find her, crumpled up in a heap on the grass below. She prayed that it would be the groundskeeper, and not her older brother. He would say, "I'm sorry, there was nothing we could do, she was like this when we found her." Or, perhaps it would be Ralphy, the poor handicapped boy, that would find her. She could picture him in her minds eye, pathetically limping over to the open window, his long dark hair blowing about in the draft. She laughed then. A full, booming sort of laugh and opened her eyes.

She wasn't dead. In fact, to her complete and utter amazement, she was suspended in mid air. She reached her hands up and touched her face. Still real.

Then, as if it was something that she had been born in flesh and blood to do, she took off upward into the sky. Below her spanned the mighty Susquehanna river. She laughed, letting the sound of her voice expand outwards.

She swept past the trees near the school, budding in the warm spring air, and down, as close to the water as she could get without skimming her toes. This is when she thought of Ralphy.

"Ralphy!" She exclaimed out loud to herself, "If he only knew that he could fly! He would never have to walk again," and then more quietly, "he would be as good as normal."

With a new found purpose, she sped back to the window that she had fallen from. He was still standing in the foyer, as if nothing had happened.

"Hey Ralphy!" Kennedy said, "I want to show you something. You'll have to promise you will trust me though."

He looked at her inquisitively. He was wearing a red tee-shirt with blue sweatpants. She had never noticed how dark his features were before now. It was if he never slept. His face was drawn out and sad. She shuttered as he took a hesitant step in her direction.

"What is it?" he asked.

"You'll have to see for yourself," she was impatient with his slow movement and silently hoped that he was a bit more limber in the air. "Its really neat though, I promise," she continued as he made his way towards her. "Like nothing you've ever seen, or felt, before!" He took another step and was finally to where she stood.

She guided his shoulders and positioned him at the window, "Ready? You'll have to follow my lead."

"Of course," he exclaimed. His tone had become more exuberant.

Kennedy smiled reassuringly at him over her shoulder and then leaped out of the window. She tried to focus, but something was noticeably different this time. She was gaining speed, falling faster and faster downwards.

"Oh Ralphy, no!" She screamed, her voice piercing the air around her.

But it was too late. She hit the ground. The last thing she heard was the deafening crack as Ralphy's body collided with grass and dirt beside her.

It was all pain.

She wiggled her toes, then her fingers. She must still be alive. "Ralphy?" She whispered, her voice hoarse.

"She's awake," Kennedy recognized the revealed voice of her brother.

"Where's Ralphy?" She asked again.

"She must have hit her head pretty hard. You may as well swing by the ER just in case."

That must be groundskeeper, her vision was coming back in focus. She looked anxiously around her but saw no sign of the red tee-shirt anywhere.

"C'mon Kenny, lets get you home," her brother said. She let him hoist her up, one arm under hers.

They were almost to the car when she heard the sound of laughter ringing in the sky above her. She strained her neck upwards. Above her was a small dot of blue and red circling and looping. Flying strong and happy.