She Could Have Died

She could have died. Right there - right here - in my front yard, she could have died. Twelve years old with her whole life ahead of her and she almost lost it all. A poor judgement call, a slip of the shoe and she almost lost it all. With two kindergarten boys and her almost 12 year old boyfriend watching her fall, watching the rope they've played on for years go tight and nearly take the life of a young girl.

She could have died. In my yard, on my watch, in my tree...

Just a trick. She was showing off for Kid-1 and tried a very stupid trick. The rope, knotted around her neck, climbing the tree, just a trick, watch this trick. She slipped, she fell.

He saved her. He probably saved her life. He brought the little stepladder, the 3-step one the little kids use to reach the first branch. He brought it and put it under her feet. He saved her.

The bruising. The cut. She looks like she was brutally attacked. She's only 12. And she nearly died. She could have died.

She could have died.