Tragedy...

The following is a fictitious depiction of a victim in the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech University. If you think your sensibilities might be offended by this write up please do not read it. For me this is a means to express my compassion.

He stifles a yawn, trying not to think about lunch as he muses over his lecture notes. His gaze shifts towards the clock as he counts down the minutes to the end of the class. A sudden shriek breaks him out of his reverie. There are gun shots in the corridor. He hears a cry cruelly cut short. The class becomes deadly silent as the shock hits everyone. The student nearest the door runs to close it but she is too late. The villain burst in with and a deadly shot rings out.

He tries to snap out of the steel grip of fear; he curses his inaction, but the suddenness of the crime, the barbarity of this man’s act leaves him stunned. The villain, however, seems completely unfazed or unaware of the utter depravity of his actions. Tears fill the student’s eyes as he sees his class mates trying to seek cover that cannot be found. He sees a boy shielding a girl with his body, he sees the wounded crying in pain, and finally, through the strength of his emotions, his body comes back under his control. The sorrow, the anger, the adrenaline; he dashes towards the crazed assailant, and others follow him in a valiant attempt to end the tragedy. But bullets have no respect for bravery.

His eyes meet those of the villain, and the hate and the rage in them almost deal him a physical blow. His dad’s words reel in his memory; “Never look a mad dog in the eye”. But that advice cannot help him here. He feels the wind get knocked out of his chest as he falls to the ground. “This is the end”, he knows. He wants to cry at the injustice; at the incomprehensible evil of the act. What is wrong with this world? He wants to live! His love, his hopes, his ambitions; why must they fade away? If only the force of his will could change his fate.

He feels someone drop beside him. He turns to his side to see. She looks like an angel through the veils of his fading consciousness. She reaches out her hand and he takes it. And together they cry at this tragedy, as they become part of it.