Where are these women?
Vancouver's eastside missing women
Hi, my name is Sylvia.
I am a 30 year old single mother of one. I was the last person to see
Sarah alive. I say that because my
heart says that's the truth. I felt
that when I turned the corner after driving around the block and saw her corner
empty.
We had agreed to meet back at the same
spot. I knew I would not see her
again. The next day I went back
downtown to speak with her boyfriend and the guy I was seeing. No one had seen
her. I checked back again and
again. Nothing.
My question. No one has
questioned me. I've spoke with a
few officers on the street but no real attempts to talk were made.
Hey we really should get together - like we were discussing the stock
market or something. Is this how
I'll be treated should I be the next victim.
Five years ago I would have been frontpage
news. A manhunt would have
been organized, a reward without question.
You see 5 years ago I was one of you.
A hard working mother of one in a long term common-law relationship.
I have one year of College, Business Administration.
My last job paid me over $4000 a month.
Our income bracket was 75,000 to 80,000 per year.
I owned show dogs imported from Germany and my son was 3 years
developmentally delayed and has had a lot of medical issues over the years and I
was a "rock." I worked
hard and I was happy. In 2 years I
lost it all. One day I crumbled.
I know now why "they" don't just
get a job, go home, go to detox etc.
Low self worth forever sinking lower with more than a few helping shoves from those around us. The looks of disgust and contempt. I ask this. Do you think as a child while I played Barbie that I dressed her up in a "spandex mini" and "thigh high boots" and played "junkie hooker"? Of course not.
I dreamed and I also achieved those dreams.
Why when I fell down didn't you help me up,
I asked? Why did you leave me there
for so long as it got worse?
I don't blame anyone else but myself for my
addiction. But as for my self
worth, I know that I am worth nothing at all because of my--"what is that
policitcally correct description?"--oh yes, "Disease" that I have
and to feed it I have to work the street.
I am worthless because of that. I know this because my friends keep disappearing and no one
even looks for them. I know this
because I was there when Sarah was taken and no-one asks me about it.
If I were the mother of one and I was
standing on a corner going to work and I had disappeared, would you look for me,
ask about me?
Well guess what? I'm
still a mother of one going to work. I
have one more thing to say and it's 1999 so I have a voice you can hear and know
this. "Heroin addicts don't
just disappear." They NEED and
I say NEED the heroin to function. From
what I know and understand these girls used heroin and they wouldn't go to far.
Second
point is a quote: Police took
"unusual step" of holding a press conference to warn DES Women that a
man considered a sexual sadist has been released from prison.
Reported, offender assaulting working women one of his crimes.
Not one of my co-workers knew nor mentioned
this information. These people look
at us everyday but they don't see us. Most
of us are homeless or live in hotels that are somewhat lacking almost everything
including the usual TV's. The only
people informed were people that didn't really need to know.
Heck dates were talking about some angry guy and I thought it was to do
with the Serial Killer, not a known offender, an obvious threat.
Look at me.
I would love to go home. But
I'm to afraid of losing my pet--my monkey--my king kong.
It hurts so bad--I go mad.
Someone please, at least make it safe to
stand all alone in that dark lonely place.
My life is ugly enough and I want to
believe that I matter again. That
I'm worth something and maybe you can help me believe in me again.
Sarah, I miss you--you called me your friend and in 18 months you're still the only one.
Sylvia
Where Are These Women?
