Unsolved

Horror | Poem | A teenager’s reckless actions lead to a girl's death

Originally written in 2019

It was an ordinary day in the Schneider household

where seven teenagers were crammed into one bedroom.

Rowan charged out of the house and slammed the door shut

before mounting his red Honda motorcycle.

Wind slapped against his face as he sped to a nearby park,

completely naked and

having no sense of reality.

Screams escaped from a young girl

as she hurtled towards Rowan,

who was sitting on his motorcycle.

The terrified girl climbed on,

yelling at him, “Go! He’s going to kill me!”

Unstable as a tree struck by lightning,

he shoved her off his motorcycle.

Falling hard onto the rough concrete, she screamed again.

Rowan left the scene with no regrets.

Breaking news flashed on the bunny-ear television.

A girl has been murdered.

A witness recalls seeing the girl with Rowan,

with the same motorcycle as the killer.

Denying all claims, he left the station,

lying to the police.

The story is first heard

forty years later.

If he didn’t push the girl away,

She’d still be alive today.

The murder remains unsolved.

And nothing will ever be the same.