Footprints in the Sand

Her name was Gilreath

and she was fifteen

years old.

She was not ready

to start a family, to

carry the issue of her

abusive stepfather

to term.

She wanted nurturing

parents and friends

and love.

Two wrongs don’t

make a right,

she was told.

Then why are you

abusing me twice?

she asked.

There were wet

prints in the

sand to show

where the girl

stood

before she

plunged to her

death

from the precipice.