To Be Swept Away

By Sonny Go

The piece I've attached in this message is dedicated to the victims of a recent tragedy that has happened in my country. There was a gigantic mudslide on February 17, 2006 that claimed the lives of an entire community in the province of Leyte.

All I heard was the crushing sounds of inevitability.
I was in a dreamworld. I knew it was all an illusion, but it felt so real. I could see the beautiful scenery, hear the birdsongs, smell the fresh province air as well as feel it gently rushing at me in a breeze. It was a peaceful place. It was what I have always wanted. A safe and peaceful place to lay my head on.
I wasn't really there though. I was a spirit floating around the vastness of the land. I was more like a ghost, standing at an elevation overlooking the landscape. To one side, it was a mountain, towering over a village at the other side. It had a certain look that puzzles. How can such a landscape feel so peaceful, yet unsure.
It was actually too peaceful. It held an eerie atmosphere despite the tranquility. Rain gradually came down from the heavens. It gave the place a sense of melancholy. Water is an essence of life, and it poured down in massive quantity. It went on for what seemed like eternity. During this time, something happened.
After a few moments of mild tension, it came forth, rushing with ungodly speed, loosened by the rain. It showed no mercy and it seemed like it had a face of terror. It was a raging river of earth heading towards the direction of the village.
It crashed with such force that it swept the whole village within a few minutes. Men, women and children were all smothered by the mud and the rocks that came crashing down towards them. No one was safe and I was there to see it all transpire. I was watching the unfolding of a grim tragedy.
It lasted for some time. When everything went still, all forms of life was no more. It was still raining, raising the danger level with every drop. The huge mass of earth could crumble even further once exposed to erosion. It didn't matter at all though. No one could've survived that.
But I was wrong. When I went there for a closer look, I came across a woman, partially submerged in the mound. She was young, yet all vibrance was not evident. She had a shocked look on her face. Speechless and weary, she tried with all her might to escape her perdicament, but to no avail. Then, she spotted me a few feet away from her. She cried at me for help and extended her hand towards me. She was desperate to live.
As I held out my hand to hold on to hers, to pull her out of the mud, she suddenly went limp. As I completely extracted her from the earth, she was motionless. I checked for any remaining sign of life. There was none. She passed away. I have failed.
I let go of her, dusted myself and walked towards the other direction. Tears stained my vision. I couldn't take it. It was too much. It was mortifying.
I could do nothing. Nothing at all...

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