a l i v e & a w a k e

Sarah came in looking tough. Her jeans ripped, a tight small shirt, and a foul mouth. She was known as a ‘town whore’ to some. Sarah and two other girls were rumored to go and do ‘favors’ for free when guys called. These rumors were enough to knock anyone down and so it was in this little town. Her friends loved her dearly.

Her first time in drop-in was in 1996. She would frequently come to Switch Yard and enjoy the games and atmosphere of drop-in. She had a few boyfriends but none of them lasted more than a couple of weeks.

I once was able to talk a little deeper with her about life. She was very angry and hurt from things in her past and there was little desire to trust or open up. The most she ever shared was how she loved evil and the power of anger. Her brother Drew was of the same mind and had spent many months in jail. She would never talk to him though.

One time she came in and told me how much she loved Satan. She was high (as most times). I never felt like I could get deeper into her life because of her view of men. I wished that a girl could have come and been a sister to her.

I received news on July 23/97 that Sarah had died on the 401 in Mississauga. Her and her friend Melissa were trying to cross the highway at 4:00am. She was hit by a car and the man driving didn’t even see her until it was too late. Many of the youth mourned her death with drugs and alcohol. We had good conversations at drop-in about life and death. (Becky saw her die on the highway and never really opened up about the whole thing.) I learned how we can never underestimate the opportunity of every connection point.
-Life stories 1999-joe