But there are no school buses driving down the street this morning. No kids with backpacks standing at the end of their drives. The girls from the house up the streeet aren't outside playing with their dog. Because today isn't just any beautiful morning in the Rockies. Today is different.
Because yesterday an unidentified man broke into a classroom at our little High School and lined the children up against the wall before sending the boys out at gunpoint. Later, he released most of the girls, but kept two behind. Negotiations broke down a few hours later but by the time SWAT team broke in, the gunman had shot himself. But not until after he'd shot one of the girls. A beautiful 16-year old called Emily. Who later died in hospital.
I'm sure there will be a lot of words written and spoken over the next few weeks, as people try to establish what happened. Who was he? What was his motivation? What actually happened in that classroom during those long hours of the standoff.
For me, there's only one question at the front of my mind as I look out at this gorgeous Rocky Mountain morning.
How could this happen here?
May you find peace Emily.
7 comments:
So horribly sad. I will pray for Emily's family.
My sister and her family live in Bailey. Her son, my nephew, attends the high school. I spoke with her last night, and they are in complete shock. I've been to Bailey, and the little Rocky Mountain town is just as you described it; Peaceful and beautiful. I pray for Emily's family, and for the entire community that was affected by this horrific act. It is such a hard thing to grasp and come to understandings with.
Coumbine was awful, yes.
This, however, will affect the community in which it happened even more because -- with apologies for referencing South Park -- it's a quiet mountain town.
People live there because they love the beauty and quiet of the surroundings, and because they like being in a small community where people smile at each other on the street.
My thoughts and prayers for strength are with Emily's family, of course, and with the other students who had to stay in the classroom with that monster, enduring God knows what mental and physical abuse, and who will almost certainly not be able to remove that from their psyches and everyday lives.
I also feel for the residents of the area, who will not be able to drive past the school for certainly several weeks, maybe months, maybe years, without thinking of this incident.
And yet, I know that the amazing beauty of the area -- that of the landscape, certainly, but that of the people of the community as well -- will make that healing process easier to enter into, and quicker to take effect.
Sadly, it takes but one crazed monster and it can happen anywhere.
It is left to the rest of us to rise from the ashes and not let such an act dictate our future.
Emily's family has asked that folks respond by remembering Emily with "random acts of kindness".
And therein, the healing begins.
Skunk has a good point...the only path to healing is to honor her memory by being kind...as she was.
I'm truly sorry Andrew...I know how difficult this is, I lived in Littleton at Columbine's tragedy time. Eric's brother is a deputy and lives in Bailey, his sister in law a teacher in Bailey. It's a beautiful little town and I'm truly sorry that some sad excuse for humanity had to come in and destroy the peacefulness.
It's sickening and my heart bleeds for Emily's family. It makes me realize how much one person can do to destroy and devestate many people.
Rest in peace, sweet Emily.
Post a Comment