Numb

There was another mass shooting today.

I saw the morning news and just sat there, numb.

I could not let the fear in – I blocked it.

I could not let the pain and heartbreak in – I blocked it.

I could not let the anger in – I blocked it.

I sat there, numb. Just numb.

Until the stories of the helpers.

The person shielding his loved one with his body.

The person pulling another to safety.

The person helping another over a fence.

The person stealing a pickup truck to drive the wounded to the hospital.

The person applying first aid, putting pressure on a wound or tying a tourniquet.

The helpers, the hope, the caring – I finally cried. I finally wept.

I wept for the dead.

I wept for the wounded.

I wept for the survivors.

I wept for the helpers.

There was another mass shooting today.

Now what do we do? Nothing….again?

Don’t quote Chicago as the failure for gun control or Australia as the success.

We need common sense gun laws for us, NOW.

We need mental health assistance without the stigma.

We need caring and compassion without the judgement.

We need to work together. We need the helpers.

We need to be helpers – selfless, caring and strong.