May 2014
I was right there.
As he gripped her waist in one hand,
she glanced in my direction
long enough to force a nod
when I asked if she was okay.
His fingertips traced their way up her thigh
as her breath became more shallow.
I asked if she was okay.
She said yes.
With his cold breath on the back of her neck
and his arm pulling her closer,
he whispered something that I couldn't hear.
She said she was fine.
I was right there.
I followed her when she left.
I found her sitting on the restroom floor.
With every sob her body shook in my bony arms.
I could not protect her.
I was right there.
I am so sorry that I did not save her.
If her eyes had screamed a little louder,
if I had looked a little closer,
Maybe then I could have stopped him before it was too late.
**I was right there.
As he gripped her waist in one hand,
she glanced in my direction
long enough to force a nod
when I asked if she was okay.
His fingertips traced their way up her thigh
as her breath became more shallow.
I asked if she was okay.
She said yes.
With his cold breath on the back of her neck
and his arm pulling her closer,
he whispered something that I couldn't hear.
She said she was fine.
I was right there.
I followed her when she left.
I found her sitting on the restroom floor.
With every sob her body shook in my bony arms.
I could not protect her.
I was right there.
I am so sorry that I did not save her.
If her eyes had screamed a little louder,
if I had looked a little closer,
Maybe then I could have stopped him before it was too late.
**I was right there.
