Doc, there's an emergency!
The breaking news flashes the brutal carnage. Images and voices float in my mind as I drive in manic speed to the hospital.
Of sirens blazing. Of toys and limbs lying scattered on a carpet of red and brown.
Oxygen! I scream. Pump, harder.
Doc, there's no pulse.
Shoulders slump.
I witness grief fuse into flames that rise up collectively at the mass funeral. The ashes fall lightly on me.
Will the stench of hate ever recede?
The breaking news flashes the brutal carnage. Images and voices float in my mind as I drive in manic speed to the hospital.
Of sirens blazing. Of toys and limbs lying scattered on a carpet of red and brown.
Oxygen! I scream. Pump, harder.
Doc, there's no pulse.
Shoulders slump.
I witness grief fuse into flames that rise up collectively at the mass funeral. The ashes fall lightly on me.
Will the stench of hate ever recede?
***
Written for a prompt at
So tragic! A question that I ask myself constantly.
ReplyDeleteSad, no?
DeleteIsn't that so sad? How helpless we humans are in the face of such tragedies!
ReplyDeleteAnd, humans being the perpetrators of such heinous acts, there's a lot more to ponder!
DeleteHope one day carnage/ violence is consigned to the dictionary and no-one googles these words.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that, Kalpana!
DeleteHow positively true. When will it all end? You did a fantastic job of increasing the tension from start to finish. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mel. Glad to know this piece worked for you :)
Delete:( :( :(
ReplyDeleteHopefully, this will end some day.
:(
DeleteHeart wrenching!
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed, Namy. Thanks for reading!
DeleteTragic, indeed. Very well done. I liked the urgency in this; it made the whole thing seem particularly poignant.
ReplyDeleteHeartbreaking story. Hope there are more smiles than tears in the world soon.
ReplyDeleteI hope so too, Sulekha!
DeleteThe rising tension with such a small amount of space was executed beautifully. Great job!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot, Danielle!
DeleteThe harsh reality!Wish there was a respite from the hatred, too.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do hope for the same, Sara. Thanks for visiting :)
Deletesuch a reality! well written, Uma.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Parul!
Deletegosh this is so powerful... and so touching. I hope this violence would end someday.
ReplyDeleteThe violence ought to send, Raji!
DeleteVery attention-grabbing diary. lots of blogs I see recently do not extremely give something that attract others, however i am most positively fascinated by this one. simply thought that i'd post and allow you to apprehend.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a tragic and heartbreaking short story to read. I can’t fathom the kind of pressure all medical staff experience (doctors, nurses, emergency staff, and more). No matter how advanced technologies are today, our lives also depend on the hands of other people.
ReplyDelete