Damaged Goods- for KansasPoet Contest

A twelve year old face streaked with tears,
an ache that won't go away;
bruises and cuts that scar deeper than skin
and new demon memories at play;
A loss of innocence and trust,
that will last a lifetime through,
for a moment of unwanted attention,
a statistic that will always be true.

A fifteen year old face haunted
by memories of a night long ago,
a secret that remains hidden
for the shame that anyone know;
Nightmares that still haunt;
a fear of the darkness of night,
terrorize the life of one still a child
who can't seem to make it all right.

A seventeen year old face paralyzed,
by a drug in an innocent beer;
friends not really friends take advantage
as her beautiful body lays limply here;
An old nighmare relives itself,
this time multiplied by four;
releasing anger and fear of tomorrow
that had finally healed from before.

A nineteen year old face stunned,
as the doctor says it's too late;
the child within lost,
by a single action of hate.
The loss greater than any loss felt,
bringing tears to her tired face;
as she stares at the stars, pleading,
for the world to find her a safe place.

A twenty-four year old face broken,
as a hand wraps around her throat, choking;
with walls around her heart unbreakable,
the hour of pain is stroking.
And as she wipes her tears away,
she reaches for a safe place to hide;
a place of freedom for damaged goods
a place full of love and pride.