WL -- of merging -- rivers

rivers

The absence of information was first a trickle, then a raging torrent. Amy told Richard about it first. "Dad, I can't locate Anna. It's been a week, and she hasn't returned my calls."

Richard immediately called the Foothills Residence Hall numbers. The Resident Assistant on the floor hesitated a moment: "That's the girl with the long black hair and dark eyes, right? I'll check around. It's a busy week--she could be in the library gearing up for midterms."

When Richard called back the next morning, the RA was vague. "No one has seen her around lately, but that doesn't mean much. She didn't really relate to the kids on the floor, y'know. Too precise. Kept to herself, mostly. Or to her computer."

Richard called the Security Coordinator, who checked with the Security Monitors, who reported nothing amiss. The Security Coordinator had knocked on the door and then used the master key to get in. "There's nothing out of place there, he said. A real nice, neat room. All her books are there and her Powerbook is still on, still hooked up to the internet. I left a note on the table for her to call you. Nothing to worry about, I'm sure. College kids, they have no sense of responsibility, that's all."

Richard consulted Anna's class schedule and left messages with the profs to announce in class that Anna should call her parents--or anyone with information about Anna should do so. "A bit embarrassing for the student, what?" sputtered the chemistry prof--the only person Richard got on line. "Maybe," Richard replied. "But I haven't heard from her in over a week, and we are worried. Better a spot of embarrassment than..." he could not finish the thought.

rivers / merge into / distant nothings / so many instances / of the same time / leave undefined / origins / and destinations

the word is / the sound / of water / dripping from/ ancient symbols / tiny particles / of merging / realities