the inhumanity of people pushing and shoving
parents dragging children, pushing them to take another step
another step
another step,...
beyond their exhaustion.
the few belongings they can carry are clutched on-to for dear life.
One family forced to decide should they leave their meager belongings or their child 's precious property, those little things that make the child feel safe and secure. The parents have only enough strength for one or the other and no time for compromise, so they choose.
.
.
.
And the back pack that looks like a teddy bear is trampled and kicked around, its guts spilling as the mob runs. Her favorite scarf, her princess tierra, the stuffed toy she has had for the last 3 years spill out of the now dead teddy bear. And I caught up on the horror am about to kick it out of my way when it rolls and looks at me, with one of its eyes now missing, and scuff marks that looks like sad little tears on its precious soft fleece face.
a symbol for what has happened, a lost soul with no one to love it during this most dreadful of times.
but my moment of mourning is broken by a shove and a woman part crying, part screaming with the most dreadful tone imaginable saying "Oh my god I can't believe this is happening to us"
And then I hear the gamut of "God Damn" and "God bless" and "God save us",....... But God has nothing to do with the horor unfolding, even he, the killer of millions, the one that turned Lot's beloved wife to salt, the one that killed David and Bathsheba's baby boy, could not have come up with this torturous day.
Some sit exhausted, they have given up, no fight left in them resigned to the fate that will come.
Some couples urge each other on to break through the wall of exhaustion and get their much needed "second wind"
And a few that chose to shed themselves of their possessions, run, run as if their life depended upon it, refusing to be trampled by the hoard. They dodge in and out of the masses, occasionally pushing someone out of their way and jumping over the little children that wander into their path. They will survive!
the confusion
the disbelief
some just stay frozen in the shock of the moment.
Some people try to maintain civility and politeness and humanity, but such efforts are lost on the too many trying to get through.
The pregnant lady, even she must fend for herself, her impregnater and protector in another town can do nothing to help. Her protruding, soon to be bundle of joy, right now is a horrible encumbrance that threatens her very existence, if she were a kangaroo she could leave her joey to be trampled and in doing so save herself.
And the few entrepreneurs that believe in money, betting that there will be a tomorrow, stake out a corner to sell only the basics, bottles of water, days old sandwiches, anything quick to grab and eat on the run.
Some fearing this be the last nourishment for hours make the purchase. They are frustrated and outraged by the incredibly high prices for such simple items, but there is no time to argue, so they hurriedly pick items pay for them then run away trying to make up for the lost time.
And the ladies with their fashionable shoes finally relent, and for the first time in years walk without heals, walking barefoot, foot flat on the floor, they trip over their pants that are now 4 inches too long, but they soon remember how to walk, and soon they too are running with the crowd.
