Witnessing Deaths

I've been reminded by death this past few days by hearing news of accidents and young celebreties deaths. I recalled sad thoughts of its encounter, and the unwanted feeling.
-----------
I've seen deaths in its raw form, not in chariots or in 4 horsemen but of cars passing by. Three scenes of deaths. Two of it along the busy Quezon Avenue.

ROMEO AND JULIET
The first scene struck me as 2 tragic lovers in a theatre. A motorcycle was hastily placed down while a few inches, guided by a red streak of blood, lies an image of Pieta: The man was sitting in the middle of the street, hysterical, bloody and crying over an unconscious woman.
The woman, too white to be alive, seemed peaceful in her sleep being craddled by the man.

The man I pressumed to be the lover and the driver, now driven by guilt. Two helmets were thrown meters away while bypassers were horrified and frozen. After seeing the details fully, our jeepney drove by, leaving the theatre. All passengers were transfixed at the scene slowly turning smaller and smaller to be seen, like a curtain slowly enveloping the ending.

THE UNINVITED CONCERT GUEST

A few years after that, the comfort of the UP campus was taken away by an unlikely accident. It was the Bandemonium - band concert in the dormitory in front of the National Physics Institute.

I never saw the accident but heard it like metals scraping against metals. We run for help, and found a car lying upside-down on the dormitory ground sorrounded by people. debris of the car and the broken gate scattered all around.

It was dusk and dark all together that I realized too late that I was standing in front of the victims I thought was debris. A moan and motion came from the woman pinned down by the gate. Students and teachers stood there motionless, while death was slowly nearing by. The culprit, drunk and angry, tried to run away but was caught by concerned students.

It took a few seconds before the rational mind worked. Jeepneys were called while victims were carried by armful of opposing fratmen. First aid were made by teachers and students, alike.

Aris was also there. He helped me with a long bench which could be used for carrying one of the victims. All took place in less than 15 minutes.

But all were too late to save one soul. The badly wounded woman died after a week in the ICU.

The criminal, powerful and rich, pulled some strings and got away from the law. He was able to drive freely again after the crime.

ACTION

While working freelance from an office near UST, I found myself riding a jeepney ride to UP. The traffic suddenly went slow along the squatter's area. The mysterious motion of traffic was revealed as we got near the bridge. Lying with his head on the cement and immersed with his blood was a tattooed man. He was half naked with skin pale and burnt. He was dead.

Along the corner of the squatter's area were police with hands at their back holding pistols ready to strike and fire.

It could have been an action sequence in a pinoy film. But it was real with an actor dead. He might have been a criminal, but he was dead now; there was no point thinking on what happened. Some passengers were urging the driver to move since we might get caught in the crossfire.

The driver happily oblige while taking his last glance at the man sleeping with the feces: It was a horrible way to die.