I saw this disturbing story as a video clip on local tv tonight, but cannot find anything else about it, so I am writing an eulogy for Enrique, a hero for some very lucky girl in Queens, New York. I know nothing about him, except for a short time he was very brave.
I’m above my body now and can see all the people walking by, pretending I’m not laying on the sidewalk bleeding to death. My eyes are half open and I can see the flash as someone takes my picture. Why don’t they call for help? Can’t they see I can’t help myself?
My mind goes back to last week. “I can’t keep you on. Business is flat, and I have to let you go.” My employer knew I was down to my last dime. He hasn’t been able to pay me for the last two weeks. I got evicted from my apartment last week and am now on the street hoping to survive.
Wandering tonight, I ended up at the subway. There's no one around. Its early morning, maybe 2:00 AM. I’m not sure, I had to pawn my watch. That’s when I saw her. She was walking quickly towards the station, like she knew it was not safe to be out this late alone. The guy came out of nowhere and hurried after her. He grabbed her arm and wrestled with her for a moment. That’s when I knew there was no one else but me to help.
I ran towards them and as I reached to pull him away he turned towards me. I didn’t see the knife in his hand, but I felt it as it plunged into my gut two, or was it four times. I don’t know, it all happened so fast.
He took off, and I tried to give chase, but stumbled and collapsed to the sidewalk. Blood everywhere. What now? Footsteps. Maybe help. Pain. More footsteps. I drift off. Hope she got home safe. Thoughts come and go. Where’s help? Can’t stay awake.
I’m above myself again now, watching as person after person walks by me, ignoring my plight. I didn’t think, I just reacted. A good deed for a girl in trouble. It was second nature. Why did it go so wrong?
Losing track of time. Has it been minutes? Hours? Will anyone remember me? The good things I’ve done in my life? Why doesn’t anyone help?
Too late.
I’m gone.
The Subway station camera showed that 20 people walked by and didn' t stop to help this man laying bleeding on the sidewalk, and that it took one and one-half hours for the paramedics to arrive. I have never been in a situation this dire, but it makes me think - what would I do? It makes me wonder, especially watching the person that stopped long enought to take a picture, where the compassion is in this world. This citizen, Enrique, didn't deserve to die for his good deed. It also makes me wonder about the woman he saved. I truely hope she was the one who called for assistance.
