After being removed from an abusive household in East St. Louis, Illinois, Cheyenne Johnson starts a new life in Minnesota while being under the care of Minnesota's well-known artist.
After breakfast, Prince planned to take Cheyenne on an outing to Minneapolis and run errands with him. After getting out of the shower, Cheyenne looks through her bag for something to wear. She wanted to wear something summerlike, but the bruises made her unsure.
Cheyenne's POV
I examined my bruises in distress as flashbacks begin to flood my mind. All the hurt they've caused to me is on my arms, stomach, and back. Even if they're faded, I'd still see them clear as day. I could still remember them yelling at me while they pummeled me 'til I was unconscious.
As I turned from my dresser, I nearly jumped to seeing Prince standing near the door. I'm guessing he saw them due to his broken-hearted expression.
"I was...uh...trying to find something to cover them," I said, looking down at the floor.
"Do they still hurt?" He asked, walking towards me.
I shook my head no, still looking at the floor. He ran his soft hands over my arm softly, examining them. Curling his fingers beneath my chin, he raised my head, meeting his gaze. He planted a kiss on my forehead in comfort.
"Don't let the past bring you down. Your future is bright as ever. Keep holdin' your head up, mama. It'll get better." He said as he wiped my tears away.
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Words couldn't describe how I can't believe I'm standing in the nightclub from one of my favorite movies. Looking at the stage, I pictured the kid and the revolution performing like in the movie.
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"Pennies for your thoughts?" Prince spoke from behind me.
"I wished for an escape like the kid had when he had his music to escape his home life," I said, sitting on the edge of the stage before I continue to speak.
"Sometimes, I thought about not wanting to go home. I wanted to go somewhere where I don't have to wake up to and come home all the yelling and the fighting."
"Have you told anyone about it?" He asked.
"I wanted to, but I couldn't because I didn't want to add more stress on Ma than she already has between Tommy doing drugs and Chasity sneaking out to do modeling. Which you probably saw her in a few magazines."
"I've seen her."
"Don't let her looks fool you. Because behind that is a selfish, unfaithful b***h."
Prince's POV
I'll admit I was taken back at what Cheyenne said about her sister Chasity, but from what Darryl told me how she and his brother, Tommy treated her and Gia, who'd blame her. Not only they've treated her like dirt, but they've also put her in the hospital and act as they got nothing to do with it. What broke my heart more was Gia's death. She thought she'd overcome the stress, but it was too much that her body couldn't take it.
If only I convinced her to stay after that night...
