I froze
filled with a sudden surge
of fear and panic.
I saw him
sitting alone in the hallway.
His wretched face seemed
scared and lost
like a child alone in the world.
He seemed startled
like a fawn caught in
the headlights of a rushing van.

Even from here I could smell
the liquor dripping off his clothes.
His breath reeked of whiskey.
His car keys still in his hand.
I wanted so much at that
moment to hurt him,
to cause him the horrible pain
that wretched man
caused me this night.
But most of all I wanted to ask him,
"How could you have done this?"
"How could you have taken
away the life of my innocent child?"
"how is it possible?"

I stood there staring at him.
Not able to move,
not even able to talk.
I just stood there staring
at the man who murdered my child.

- Laura Aplin, Nanaimo, B.C.