It is not something that is supposed to happen in a small town.
Monsters don’t live in our quiet small towns. Sure they live in backalleys of big cities, creeping between the shadows and waiting to pounce at any unsuspecting moment. Strangely they are easy to spot there, you can stay away from there. Reserve that place for your nightmares.
Those monsters are not supposed to live near you walking through town living life day-to-day as anyone else.
And they are not supposed to enter your home while you are sleeping and carry off one of your young children.
That is the real nightmare — to put your child to bed and return in the morning only to find it empty.
It was a nightmare that unfolded in front of an international audience last week when the Hebert family in Sparwood, B.C., came to the realization that their three year old son Kienan was not just missing, but likely in the hands of a man responsible for unspeakable acts.
Thankfully, this story had a happy ending and Kienan was returned to his home with no apparent physical trauma. This does however serve as an eye-opener that it could as easily been in the Cowichan Valley.
Nearly an entire province separates us from Sparwood, but this kind of evil does not pay attention to coordinates.
Those of you with children, go home and hug them extra tight tonight.
Should this ever happen here, at least you can be sure there would be the same community support shown on the eastern side of the province.