text: I am surrounded here. Sitting on a bus, riding down I-95, and the only common denominator between me and the other people around me is this bus. Skin color, occupation, gender; whatever small differences one could use to separate our various existences were overshadowed by the fact that we were all in this moment heading to the other side of Washington D.C. on this bus. Of course, once there we’d go our separate ways and probably never see each other again. A comforting thought I am sure. Especially to the man standing alone by the rear door, looking as though he may be pick-pocketed at any moment. The tight hold on his backpack and hesitant glances around the bus seem to be an obvious indicator it was his first time alone on public transportation, or not; maybe he’s just a nervous guy. For me, a seasoned veteran of public transit, this ride was just another day of taking the cheapest mode of transportation to another potential job opportunity that would almost certainly fall apart at the last minute. Well that’s not quite right. It wasn’t just another day; it was a good day. One of those days that seems a little brighter than the others and motivates you to try your hand at the lottery for no other sake than why the hell not. A brief, audible chuckle slips from my lips as I think of this bus and all the others like it as metal cans flying down the road, filled to the brim with frustrated people consumed in their own lives and how I am normally right there with them. And today this bus was the king of the road cans, having a giant Coca-Cola logo painted on the side. Too bad I didn't have a coke; really a drink of any sort would be nice. Oh well... With a glance, I turned my attention forward and was reminded of the most recent catalyst for my unusually pleasant mood. Here, directly in front of me sat one of the most strikingly beautiful girls I have ever seen. Dark hair like the black sands of Hawaii, it had a softness that almost asked one's hands to run through it. Falling around her face, framing her jawline, and stopping just after her breast; one could not help but be struck by the juxtaposition of her deep, blue eyes. Blue, in the way the sky is blue just before the sun begins to rise to wake the world from its slumber. In that brief second our eyes locked and we shared the strangers smile. Quickly turning back to the window as if we were passing some great monument, my smile lingered as I watch the trees and grass pass. Waiting for the next opportunity to look back into those eyes and attempt to bolster the courage to say something. But this was not to be so. Slowly rotating my head to the front of the bus, I am able to only catch the moment before the front of our bus was introduced to the front of a Wal-Mart Semi. Our coke can began to wrinkle up the side and I could see those beautiful eyes staring back into mine, filled with fear. Feeling myself beginning to thrust forward I know that I am going to slam directly into this angel in front of me. As my ass separates from the seat, I successfully make a final effort to contort my shoulders resulting in a trajectory that would successfully avoid a collision with and destruction of what was certainly one of God's masterpieces. Gliding past her I am actually able to catch a hint of her perfume. It smelled familiar, and all I can help to think is that I wish I had said something. Everything went black. Waking up days later in the Alexandria Hospital, the first words out of my mouth were asking about this girl whose name I didn’t even know. Fortunately for me, one of the paramedics who was first on the scene was working nearby. He overheard my description of the girl and came to my bedside to tell me what had happened. She had been thrust forward after the initial impact, and had sequentially intercepted a shard of glass on her way to where I had been sitting. I was told that she died painlessly, as did most of the other people on the bus. His words didn’t seem to help.