Just the Beginning!: the best and worst day

South Beach, so beautiful!

After a long day in the sunshine, Frisbee playing, bartering, and the company of great people it was time for us to go back and meet the rest of the group. This is where my day went from one of the best days, to one day that I will never forget. And not because the beaches were absolutely amazing and I think everyone should see Africa and all its beauty it has to offer, or that the people we bartered with were so talented and made me earrings from scratch, or that M and I played Frisbee with three Masai men who were walking by for over an hour. It was on our way home, we were driving a bajaj, I was looking out at the scenery as usual- you observe so much more riding a bajaj, rather then a car.

There was a girl walking, to where I do not know, but her destination will never be known and she will never get there. While we were driving, and as I was watching her walk, a mini logging truck came by the side of our bajaj and I saw her body tumble from the front wheel, to the back. At first I didn’t know if what I was seeing was real, and then a second later I processed what I had just witnessed. Our driver stopped immediately and we all turned to look at her, lying there on the side of the road. Moments later there were several strangers surrounding her. Tears starting welling up in my eyes as I thought of what had just happened. One moment ago she was not expecting to be run over, and then a second later there she was, nearly dead with the common twitching.

I felt mad that the driver just drove off, why did this have to happen to her? Hearing about these kinds of stories is one thing but actually witnessing a scene such as this is indescribable. The rest of our ride home was silent, emotions and questions were fogging up my head. Our driver was frantically calling other drivers, warning them of the incident and the large yellow truck that would soon be coming there way. We hit traffic on the way to the ferry, and there he was on the side of the road, being held by several men. Before this moment I was so mad at this man I didn’t know, but looking into his eyes and seeing the fear, I felt a sudden urge of sympathy.

This man was going to be beat to his death for an incident that lasted no more then two seconds but would end not only one life, but two, including his own.

I continue to have these images in my head, the truck, her body flailing between the wheels and her body lying there, along with the fear of the mans eyes. I try to block these thoughts and image from my mind, but these glimpses, these images wont leave.

I know this man deserved some sort of punishment, but death?

It goes to show how quickly life can be taken. Today is today; he who says tomorrow is a liar (lao ni lao, asemao kesho ni mwongo). Live for the moment, don’t plan too far ahead, enjoy each day and embrace the moments that make you smile, and when its hard to smile, know that YOU are great