She Answered the Call

by Programming Coordinator and Dismas Alum Kristine Hines, CPSP

In the quiet corners of a childhood lost,

A little girl wandered, counting the cost.

Abandoned echoes, where laughter should play,

Hiding her heart, wishing love would stay.

Innocent eyes met the world’s cruel glare,

Wondering softly, “Is it me? Do they care?”

Fear wrapped around her, a blanket of night,

Searching for saviors, to guide her to light.

Time marched on, and the pain took its toll,

A spiraling dance, losing pieces of soul.

Needles and shadows became her embrace,

As darkness consumed her, she quickened the pace.

But deep in the silence, a whisper took flight,

“Hold on, dear heart, there’s a path into light.”

Through the haze of despair, a flicker of hope,

A chance for redemption, a way to cope.

With courage emerged from the depths of her fight,

Reclaiming her spirit, she stepped into light.

No longer a victim, but a warrior bold,

With love as her armor, her story unfolds.

Now she stands taller, with scars that remind,

Of battles once fought, of the strength she would find.

In the warmth of connection, she learned to believe,

That healing is possible, and it’s never too late to achieve.

So here’s to the journey, the rise from the fall,

To the girl who felt broken, but answered the call.

With love as her compass, she’ll shine ever bright,

A beacon of hope in the darkest of night.