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Clem didn’t want to let go of the line but the kite kept pulling
higher
higher
HIGHER
stretching his arm until he couldn’t feel it anymore, up into the void so blue it sucked the color from all but the red crisscrossed paper diamond,

and meanwhile, the rope around his ankle kept pulling
lower
lower
LOWER
stretching his leg until he couldn’t feel it anymore, down into the void so cold it sucked the warmth from all but his rabbit-thumping heart, until at last he couldn’t keep his grip any longer and
fell
and
fell
and
fell
and
fell