I think back to the summer
Red faces, blue sky, and the perfect shoreline
Running through sand
Jumping over waves
Even some chat about that guy staring at us.

Smiles filled our faces
Joy was all we felt
Jealousy never the issue
No longer friends
But sisters are who we were.

Every day was new
Taking pictures
Walking to town
And the rainy days made mud fun
Even the breakouts never had us down.

She showed up with bruises
Much too large for bumps
Her habits grew worse
My concern being all I felt
Holding onto what we had left of it all.

Being too young to move
Yet too old to cry about it all
Her shelter was here at my own home
But after time it ceased
I would cringe from the thought of loss.

The summer had gone
Papers no longer for doodles of fun
Lunch plain and nasty within
Meeting only once each day
Losing what we had built.

Months seemed to pass as days
Less and less being said
Used to be thoughts shared
She started becoming invisible
Lost more each week.

Then hearing unbelievable news
No one knew where to look
Where could she have run?
Why did she have to meet him?
Is there anything I should have done?

Questions finally have ceased
Memories now are fuzzed
Pictures are saved but never seen
She is a stranger to me now
As I must be to her as well.

You will always stay in my memories
Stephanie Marie.