Into the Forest and all the Way Through

by Cynthia Pelayo

Before the drops of blood outside the gas station there was a son, and an engagement, she would never willingly leave either of them behind, a little boy in shorts looking out from a window pane, saying “My mom’s at some- where” and he too will know the pain that she is somewhere, and it is neither here nor there flitting under gas station lights, the smell of gasoline cool spring air, and head lights just out there, so close, and she was at work and mommy was supposed to be home by now, but awful things swim in the trunks of stranger’s cars syringes in a black box concealed, stranger found jury deliberated his depravity less than two hours, but with that sick stained smirk he still refuses to tell a boy where’s his mommy’s somewhere Name: Jessica Heeringa Missing from: Norton Shores, Michigan Race: White Age at disappearance: 25 Missing since: 2013