A letter to Phoenix…

I have been reading in the newspaper about the trial of this little girl’s mother and her (mother’s) boyfriend. I have been reduced to tears reading about the events of her short life. I cannot understand in anyway how this can happen. Google her story (Phoenix Sinclair). It’s sad, but at least the truth is now being told.

If I could, I would tell her the following:

Dear Phoenix:

I am sickened by what you had to endure in your short five years. I am saddened you had to suffer like you did. No child should have to live without knowing the love of their family. No child should have to live their life in fear. No child should have to endure cruelty like you did.

I can’t get the image of you running away while being shot at with a pellet gun and hearing the laughter of your abusers in the room. I am haunted by the image of your battered body on the cold basement floor. I am so very saddened you had to endure such pain and humiliation until the end.

I am a person who believes there is good in everyone. I am a person who believes that everything happens for a reason. Your life story makes me question those beliefs. I cannot wrap my brain around why or how someone could inflict this kind of torture on another human being. I cannot understand how your mother could stand by and witness it. I cannot accept the fact that your body was buried next to a dump, and your abusers continued on like nothing happened.

Where were your protectors? Where was the rest of your family? Where were your neighbours? Where was the community? Where were the government officials?

I wish I could have put my arms around you and protected you. I wish someone would have protected you. I wish you could have known true happiness. I hope you are now at peace and are no longer suffering.

You will not be forgotten.

For those of you with a child(ren) I hope this story will encourage you to give your child(ren) a little extra love...maybe just an extra hug...on behalf of all the Phoenix's of the world.