53, that is the number on my mind tonight. 53 is the number of people that got on a bus friday and got nowhere. they no longer exist. they died.

i wonder where they were going. home perhaps? was someone waiting for them? who knows.

life's unfair, that's no secret. still, it never ceases to amaze me. and death- it's scary. you don't see it coming and then, suddenly, you're gone. who suffers the most are those left behind: those whose only choice is to accept and let go. and to forget, if they can.

the public transportation situation in Guatemala is ridiculous. we're so irresponsible...i can't even imagine how many guatemalans have died because of negligence and lack of interest. the buses are in precarious conditions, that is something everyone can see. not only do they pollute horribly, but they're also a tremendous threat to our safety. and the drivers---they're usually very unqualified to drive such vehicles. let's put aside the fact that being a bus driver in Guatemala means risking your own safety in many ways(another problem that needs to be solved)...still- drivers are responsible for many peoples' lives, and should be better prepared.

what happened to this people is a tragedy, one of many that took place in Guatemala on friday night.