Kayla's Story

Little Kayla is out in the yard playing with her favorite Malibu Barbie doll. She hears something. She looks up to see what’s going on.

She analyzes the cul-de-sac like an eagle on the hunt. She stops and locks her eyes to the direction of the sound. She grows a massive smile.

It's the neighbor’s 5 year old daughter, and Kayla’s best friend. She turns and yells "DADDY! Can I go play with Sarah?"

"Yes, honey bunny. Just be careful when crossing the street." I call out as I turn away. I walk less than 5 feet before I hear tires screech.

My heart beats like a humming bird. I race outside to see a SUV dead stopped in the middle of the street. Kayla is nowhere in sight.

"KAYLAAA!!!!" No response. I run towards the car. Its tires spin, screeching again and it speeds off revealing something under it.

I stop dead in my tracks. So does time. My heart stops functioning. I can't think. My legs fail. I fall to my knees. "K-Kayla?"

She lies there, motionless, sprawled out in the middle of the street. Eyes open. My heart still isn't working. I might have a heart attack.

Something is coming out of her head. I see neighbors coming out. They're saying something. But I can't hear them. She looks so peaceful.

My heart beats again. I understand what’s happening. My emotions rush at me at once. Heart break. Despair. Wrath. Hate.

My sweet baby is gone. I hold her in my arms. Blood dripping on me. I feel a massive hole get ripped out of me. Only wind goes through it.

"Kayla sweetie please talk to me. C'mon say something. Its poppa. Don’t leave me, it'll be okay. Why won't you say anything to me?"

I'm enraged. What kind of sack of shit lowlife scumbag would come take her life, and drive off. That bastard is probably laughing about it.

Why the hell wasn't I watching her? I should have walked her across the street. I’m at fault for my own daughters death. What’s wrong with me?

Am I really that bad of a person to deserve this? Is it Karma? Did God punish me? Allah? Zeus? Vishnu?

What did I do to you? But why blame a higher being that doesn't exist. I am the one to put to blame here. I'm at fault... I can hear sirens.

The sirens are faint and are slowly getting louder. I stare into Kayla's lifeless eyes. She stares back. The sirens get louder. Oh god no.

That’s the last thing I want to hear. My tears drip down onto her cheeks. This really can't be happening. I'm having a nightmare. Wake up.

The ambulance sirens grow increasingly louder. Nonononono. It really is happening. Wake up. Please Kayla, talk to me. WAKE UP!

Lights flash all around me, sirens blaring. People clear and the EMT come. My heart aches as they take Kayla out of my arms.

I follow them stumbling and mumbling like a drunken fool. I climb into the ambulance where Kayla now lies. The doors close and we drive off.