someone died not far from here

someone died not far from here. around 10pm last friday she attempted to cross a street for the last time. a grey ford fusion and a 2nd car hit her. a man would step out of the convenience store nearby - the one she had just shopped in - and see her body on the ground. emergency services would arrive shortly and pronounce her head on the scene. she was 40.

two days later i am turning off of the street where the condo i live in sits and onto west michigan avenue. she died here, at this intersection. 100 yards away from where i lived, at most. a man in a button down dress shirt tucked into khakis is wandering the street aimlessly, in the middle of the left turn lane, seemingly at a loss. a young kid rides away on their bike so fast i can scarcely make out any detail. beyond, a crowd of 20 or so; heads tucked onto shoulders, tears running freely, a power pole smothered with flowers and balloons and cards.

the next day a lone balloon from the power pole has detached itself and blown itself into the street where the condo i live in sits. the slightly deflated mass sways gently in place, as if indecision by way of a light breeze has it rooted permanently.

the police say alcohol is not involved, and 'freak accident' is the term used. i recall briefly, though, how violent this town is, in the top 4 percentile nationwide, a violent crime rate that towers over most other cities, assault and rape and manslaughter seemingly insurmountably high here in a country already obsessed with guns and violence like no other. i recall how this town has 2.5 times the amount of harmful air quality days compared to the national average, one of the worst rates in the country. i recall how over 30% of the population here lives in poverty, much higher, again, than most of the nation. someone died not far from here, but 2 days later that news story is forgotten. someone not far from here was murdered.