I remember

In 1985 my parents took their boatbuilder and his family away on their newly completed yacht for the weekend. Barry and Jeanette had 2 daughters, Donna was my age, and Kylie was 9. Donna was the skinny dark haired one from what I remember, serious and competitive. Kylie was only 9 and cute, and cheeky and round and soft. I remember Kylie entertaining the grown ups with her infectious smile, and quick retorts, I remember thinking at 11 years old how this little girl beamed and had a quality I didn't possess at all, charisma. My parents took a photo of Kylie that day and its how I will always remember her.

In 2000 she got off a bus and walked home, well, thats what was supposed to happen. Instead, as she walked, she was assaulted by a stranger, raped and stabbed to death. It was on the news, 23 year old woman dies in a park, the veritble Kitty Genovese of our time, as she screamed for help and noone offered any, hoping, instead that someone else might come to her aid. And then a mutual friend of her parents called mine and told us that it was Kylie who had died in that park.

Tonight on TV they profiled her killer, and it made me remember that little girl with the round face and the smile. I hope she knows that even in a moment she left her impression upon me.