What happened??

I look down at the picture
that i hold in my hand
of a sweet little girl named Katie
playing in the sand

not a single worry passing through
her open, care-free mind
not even a thought
as to what her future might find

so innocent, i thought
so uncorrupted and naive
she doesn't know what comes next
she wouldn't even believe

what happened to poor Katie?
she lost her brightness and her glow
what happened to that beautiful girl?
that brought her down so low?

what happened to the sparkle?
in those big blue eyes?
what happened to the passion
that seems to have withered and died?

what happened to her confidence?
determination and self-esteem?
they all seemed to slip away
never again to be seen

what happened to the big, bright smiles?
the sparkles and the bows?
the pig tails, and the stickers?
no one seems to know....

what happened to that little girl?
that made her turn so black?
what pushed young Katie over the edge?
but couldn't pull her back?

what happened to that happy child?
when did it get so cold?
somehow she's become morbid, and sullen
when did that girl get so old?

who was it that made her the victim?
who was it that broke her heart?
who was it that took her perfect world?
and began to tear it apart?

will she ever find that little girl?
can she once again be glad?
or is she stuck in this alternate reality?
forever depressed, and sad?

will she forever feel this pain?
this torturing, of her soul?
or can someone, somewhere save her?
can anyone make her whole?

i ponder these things, then i pick up a blade
and cut the picture in two
then i turn that same blade, onto myself
and i shred my arms up too

i mourn for the little girl
that the world has lost
and i mourn for the young woman
who still must pay the cost