This is what Charlotte writes.

08.31.07

It’s like when

you’re climbing

backwards

down a ladder,

and your foot swims

in the air until

it finds the rung

and you step down

and down again

to safety.

Now imagine

if the rung

wasn’t there.

If there was

only space

and you slip away

and fall forever,

never stopping.

Breathless and

terrified and

no way out.

It’s like that.