This is really short. And really sudden. It just popped in my head. Not too much closure, I'll warn you, but, since when does life have closure? Okay, I confess, it popped in my head after I saw the two (or three) stories in YJ about 9/11. I kind of drew from my own experience. I was eight when the towers fell.

Wally sat on the ledge right outside the mountain's "back door." His feet swung lightly in front of him, hitting the rock wall on the way back, while his green eyes took on a shade of blue from the reflection of the sea. His gaze was unfocused, and his posture was relaxed. He was...thoughtful.

"Wally?"

The ginger looked up, his thoughts so suddenly interrupted. "Huh?"

Dick sat down next to him. "Dude, are you alright? You've been sitting there for, like, five minutes."

Wally's face took on a shocked look. "Seriously? That long? Dude!"

Dick laughed, plopping down next to him. "What've you been thinking about?"

Wally looked carefully at his best friend, seemingly examining him closely. "You do know what day it, right?"

"Yeah, 9/11. I should know, because Bats has been going crazy over security all over Gotham, and even most of New York." Dick said it nonchalantly as he leaned back, bracing himself with his hands. "Why've you been thinking about that?"

"Aunt Iris did a story on it. It's took her a while, though. Her boss asked for it two weeks ago, and, when I've been over, I can tell she's been crying over it. I think it took her all of the two weeks to do it."

"Wow." Dick looked down. "Crying, huh? Did she have friends in the towers that day?"

Wally shrugged. "I dunno. Maybe."

Dick nodded.

The gulls cried overhead, searching for food o eat. They watched lazily has a few swung down and just barely missed the waves in the sea.

"It's been ten years."

Dick looked back up. "Huh?"

"9/11. It's been ten years. Can you believe it?"

Dick shrugged. "I dunno. I never really thought about it before."

"I was five."

"And I was three."

Wally glanced over at him. "Do you remember what it was like for you? Where you were?"

Dick examined his friend, as if gauging what was wanted out of him. "Well...I guess I was in our trailer. I..." his brow furrowed. "I think I remember mom crying about it, and I think I remember the pictures and videos. But, I was so young, those memories aren't the best."

The young speedster nodded. "Yeah. I was about to go to kindergarten, I think. I walked into the living room, and my mom was just standing there, watching the tv. I don't think I understood what was happening, and I know I didn't care."

The teenage heroes sat quietly for a moment, each thinking about it.

Wally shifted. "It's weird, now. Because," he grasped his arm with his hand. "It kind of hurts now, y'know? I mean, if we were heroes, then. We could've stopped it from happening, and all those people wouldn't have died. Do you realize how many people died that day?"

Dick met Wally's gaze. "A lot. I know, I've thought about things like that, before. It does put things in a different light. Knowing that there wasn't anyone who could have gone and saved them."

Wally looked back away. "I guess we'll just have to focus on the present and future, then. 'Cuz, we're here now. "

Dick smiled lightly. "Yeah, I guess so."

Wally leaned back. "Ten years..."

See? Yeah. Review? -Jimmy C.