he asked

by lilly barels

this morning he asked,
when we die
do we come back?
and then he sang
all the way to school
about death
about his sister being left behind
about wrapping his arms around me
as we disappeared.
his voice was soft.
he didn’t want me to listen.
i tightened my grip on the steering wheel,
stowed my phone in the glovebox.
his eyes glazed over
and his body went rigid
like he knew something
was coming.