Kiss a memory from long ago,
Taste the lips young as before,
Replay the time of a Jubilee,
Wanton with drink and 70's play,

Remember the troubled girl,
A woman and a child,
Flush with life and lack of guile,
Kiss the memory again and feel,
Once again that momentary appeal,

Childhood friends,
Playing games,
Spinning yarns,
Laughing at shame,

Kiss a memory and see the girl,
Fading into an insane whirl,
High as the highest peak,
No drugs to speak,

Kiss a memory and feel,
The schizophrenic loss of reality,
Reverting to childhood dreams,
Swinging and playing in old retreats,

Kiss a memory and remember the pain,
When the attacker comes to play,
Leaving her lifeless and at rest,
Amid the child hood toys of her past.

05/06/2004

Author's Note: This is probably the most personal thing I have written so far. This story is about a young woman that died 30 years ago. We had known each other our whole lives. Her parents were friends to mine as long as I can remember. We played together from the time we were little. She was a couple of years older than me. I was a freshman in college and I took her to an annual event called Jubilee. At that time I found out she was in the early stages of schizophrenia. We got quite drunk and had a very nice time, and all I did was kiss her. I knew she was disturbed and it was best if I distanced myself, even though I cared for her. As years passed it was obvious the disease was gaining a bigger hold on her life. She reverted to playing in a park at a place called the Natural Science center, that was within an easy walk from her parents house. One day, someone who had obviously been watching her, attacked her and killed her. The crime was never solved. I don't know why I wrote this, or why the memory still haunts me so, but here it is.

Posted on 05/07/2004
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