I Knew A Girl

I knew a girl...
Who was born in the summer.
The air was warm and
she came out screaming
just loud enough to let the world know 
she had arrived.

I knew a girl...
Who shoved cake on her face 
on her first birthday
and hugged her mother with 
much more love than 
anyone would ever know.

I knew a girl...
Who sobbed at her scraped knee
when she fell off her brand new scooter
but was carried back home
by her sweet uncle.

I knew a girl...
Who loved birthday cake and
blue moon icecream from a shop.
The color was always stuck to her teeth as
she smiled that big, heartfelt smile of hers.

I knew a girl...
Who cried when the boy
in 5th grade
didn't like her back.
But life didn't stop there
and her mother told her
how beautiful she is.

I knew a girl...
Who got straight A's and 
strived to be brilliant.
She wanted to be a bus driver like her mother
or a scientist
to prove she was smart enough for the world.

I knew a girl...
Who loved gymnastics and
put all her heart into being the best she could be.
She would practice until she stuck a landing
cheering with her team hugging like family.

I knew a girl...
Who's bestfriend became like a sister.
An inseperable bond.
A package deal.
But learned after 3 short years 
that not all good things stay.
That people change.

I knew a girl...
Who became so lonely in high school.
Walking the halls alone
often with a frown on her face.
When asked if she was okay
she had a gentle smile and
nodded yes.

I knew a girl...
Who fell in love with a boy.
The most wonderful boy in the world.
The boy she knew 
she wanted to marry.

I knew a girl...
Who grew very thin.
Staring at herself in every mirror
with utter disgust.
She told herself lies
telling everyone she was fine.

I knew a girl...
Who felt powerful being hungry.
Who felt in control skipping meals.
Who wanted everyone to worry
but wanted no one to help.

I knew a girl...
Who managed to lose half her weight
and no one noticed.
She cried herself to sleep at night
repeating words of hatred 
to herself.

I knew a girl...
Who felt like she lost everything
yet she had it all.
Her desire to be thin took over
and the Devil was riding on her back.

I knew a girl...
Who didn't make it to her 
seventeenth birthday
because no one saw the signs
and she didn't want the help.

I knew a girl...
A girl 
So beautiful.
So accomplished.
So ambitious.
So perfect.

I knew a girl...
I only knew her.