Rachel, you were only young
with a new family
Your old life was behind you;
you had been set free.

With a husband who adored you
and children whom you loved
This new life you were blessed with
was all that you dreamed of.

The past had been left behind
for you to start anew
But the man you had once married
had been looking for you.

With the help of the Internet
so much he had found out
The new life you were living
he now knew all about.

And so he stalked and waited
for just the right time
To make you listen and talk to you
all that was on his mind.

And when an opportunity
arose when you weren't home
He broke into your basement
waiting till you were alone.

He followed your footsteps
when you walked in the door
Then he climbed up the stairs
to talk to you once more.

As soon as you saw him
you ran screaming up the stairs
Afraid of what would happen
wondering why he was there.

He only said he wanted to talk
to say that he loved you
But in temper he found then beat
the life almost out of you.

Screaming he then dragged you
onto your bed
There he "made love" to you
and punched you in the head.

Throwing you down the stairs
he came at you again
To show how sorry he really was
he then raped you again.

In his anger he then beat you
when your husband phoned
The message saying he loves you
and he'd be late coming home.

Scared and bloodied you fought back
as he continued to beat
Trying as best as you could
with tied hands and feet.

Bruised and battered and crying
a screwdriver in his hand
Stabbing you repeatedly saying
"you never understand!"

Finally in the kitchen
you collapsed from the fight
You were bleeding from everywhere ~
it was not a pretty sight.

Still professing his undying love
he then ran away
And left you there unconscious
to die where you lay.

Your husband came home to find you
on the kitchen floor
He couldn't believe what had happened,
couldn't believe what he saw.

You were taken to the hospital
but after thirteen days
The damage was just too far gone
and you then passed away.

Oh Rachel, you were an advocate
you did not die in vain
Your message is so loud and clear
to stop violence again.

Rachel, as we remember you
in your memory
And as you fly on eagle's wings
you are now truly free.

©  Christina
26th April, 2001
 

"I wrote this poem about the brutal attack and murder of Rachel Miller, who was stalked, beaten, raped and murdered by her ex-husband on 13th April, 2000 and dying on 26th April, 2000.   Before her death, Rachel was an advocate in helping stop Domestic violence, having experienced it herself.  She began a site telling her story....which is now maintained by a friend.
"STOP the Violence"

I wrote this poem today, on the first anniversary of her death, as a tribute to her and her memory.  It is dedicated to her memory, her husband Kurt, two children and the memory of the baby, Christopher, she lost in the attack."