Page 84 - ConvinceThemFlip

convince them in 90 seconds or less
know what to do.” He was breathing slowly, his eyes unfo-
cused, as he told the story.
“We always had guns in the house. I don’t know why,
but I went and got a gun and sat down next to her. I
was sitting just like her, like this.” He showed us: knees
together, elbows on his thighs, one hand near his mouth,
the other gripping the wrist of that hand. “I had the gun in
this hand.” He flexed the hand that was close to his mouth.
“I put my body in the same position as hers, and put the
end of the gun in my mouth. I felt terrible; I wanted to
throw up. I have never felt so bad in my life. I think I know
exactly how she was feeling.” It was very moving to watch
him share the story with us. “I don’t know how long we sat
there, sharing whatever misery she was going through.
“After awhile my feelings cleared. I slowly pulled the
gun out of my mouth just a few inches. After what seemed
like forever, I sensed my sister do the same. I waited, and
then moved the gun away from my face; again, after what
seemed like an eternity, my sister copied me. I had tears
running down my cheeks. I hadn’t looked at her all this
time, because we were sitting side by side, but I knew she
must be crying, too.” His eyes refocused and he looked
pleased. “Eventually I put the gun on the floor in front of
me; my sister did the same. I don’t know why I did it, but I
couldn’t think of a thing to say to her. I only knew I had to
do something.”
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