I heard what he snarled as he pushed her face into the sidewalk
with his foot between her shoulders.
I saw him yank her head back by her beautiful blonde hair and
slit her throat before she could scream for help.
I will hear her soft, helpless gurgle until the day I die.

For all these years, I have been afraid to say anything.
If he could kill her like that, he could kill me without a second thought.
My silence was my only safety.

I was only nine years old, and my Mom was my best friend.
She told me once, "He'll kill me someday, and being him,
the All-American hero, he'll get away with it."
And, unbelievably, he did.
He got away with murder.