I watched a woman die
as I leaned out a 9th story window.

It was a busy affair-
and the news won't tell me much more than
"she's in critical condition"-
but the paramedics did CPR.

I watched them,
the men and women from the ambulance,
one at her side
the other at her head,
as they forced her heart to beat
and her lungs to take in air.

About 30% of CPR patients live.
This time they also had to use the AED.

I watched for several minutes,
useful only to pray,
as they placed the woman onto a backboard
and carried her into the ambulance,
doing CPR the entire time,
ceaseless,
unending,
changing the medics as necessary.

I watched them drive away,
the streets still blocked off,
and still,
I could only pray
for the woman I watched die.