Destined by Fate

Chapter 1

BEEP BEEP BEEP. I groaned as I turned my alarm off on my iPhone 6s Plus. The clock read 7:00 am. I grabbed my shower cap and headed towards the bathroom.

I'm a short 5'0 girl with an almond skin tone. My natural 4c hair hangs shoulder length. I have pink plush lips and soft brown eyes. That's my favorite thing about myself. My eyes. I don't really like my nose but it fits my face. I know I'm pretty but like most pretty girls I mainly see flaws. No matter how much others drown me in compliments my insecurities make me more of an introvert.

After a forty five minute steamy shower I decided to throw on something simple today. I settled for a grey Nike hoodie black leggings and my low top bred Jordan 11s. I'm a petite girl with a toned body. It looks as if I'm athletic or maintain my small shape in the gym but I don't. In my ears were diamond stud earrings. My natural curls were free in a fro today.

It was now time for school. My mom dropped me off. "Are you ready to graduate?" She asked me. "Yes" I said dryly. "Well I have a job for you whenever you're ready" Gabrielle said. She was referring to me selling my body for money. I acted as if I didn't hear her. "Well what are your plans after graduation?" She asked with a full expression. "College and making myself proud." I replied.

I lived with my mother Gabrielle majority of my life. My dad is alive but I don't have a relationship with him. My mom always says he's no one worth knowing anyway. It hurts that he doesn't reach out being I'm their only child. Maybe he could have saved me from the things I go through. Living with my mother could be better. She's abusive mentally and physically. Gabrielle threw things at me like sharp objects or hit me with extension cords. Anything she could get her hands on sometimes. She'd react insane over the smallest things. This has been happening ever since I was a little girl.

My mind went to my childhood. I remember when I was seven years old. . My mom put me in the bathtub for the night. After being in there for a while I grew lonely. I went to my room to grab my two favorite dolls. My mom was no where to be found. She had left. I got back in the tub and occupied myself. The water was cold by now as I waited. Two hours had passed and I heard the door knob twisting. Gabrielle slowly walked in the bathroom viewing me play with my dolls. Her hair and clothes were disoriented. "Are you stupid? How many times do I have to tell you no dolls in my bathroom?" My mom said sternly. "I-I'm sorry you were gone for a long time so I thought it would be okay to get them." I softly stuttered. She attacked me. She punched and scratched me until she saw blood. I balled up trying to block her blows. My lip was bruised up as well as my face. "You'll learn bitch." She spat. With that she left the bathroom and slammed the door shut. I cried hysterically facing another traumatic moment from my mother. She never came back so I limped myself to my room and cried myself to sleep.

Shortly following Gabrielle invited different men home. They disrespect me and talk to me as if I'm an prostitute. After this my aunt Gabriella took me in. She's my mom's sister. She always comforted me and said that my mom just had issues. Aunt Gabriella explained to me that she was sick in health but she took me in anyway. This lasted a couple of years. It was like a breath of fresh air. I'd wake up to breakfast she'd sing to me and spend quality time. I soaked every moment. When I was thirteen she died of kidney cancer. This forced me to move back home. I can't fix myself to hate my mom. She birthed me. Some days are better than others. Gabrielle's mom Grandma Gabby passed away when I was a newborn. My aunt Gabriella showed me pictures and told me memories told about her. She says she was a good woman until being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder led to her downfall. This leads me to believe my mom has an untreated mental disorder. I put my headphones in and vibe the rest of the car ride to school.

The clock read 2:45 pm and I was ready to be dismissed. I'm not a popular girl in my hood. I stay to myself and I'm soft spoken so people call me shy. I'm not a social butterfly but known for being the quiet type. I don't have many friends because of this but I'm cool with it. I do have one loyal friend. Embry. We've been best friends since kindergarten. As we walked out the school house the warm air hit our face. Embry pulled her car keys out. "There's a party this evening at Leah's. You want to go?" She asked. "Bri you know I don't do parties I'd feel so out of place" I said. Bri sucked her teeth. "Come on it'll be fun. We won't be there all night." she whined. Someone came up and hugged me from behind. I knew it was my boyfriend Jason. I smiled and turned around. I hugged him back. "Where you going?" I asked him. "To play ball I'll call you." He said pecking my lips. "Kay." I replied getting in the car with Embry who was waiting on me.

When I got home my mom wasn't there. She was still at work. Jason stopped by with subs and chips. Jason and I have been together for two years. He was in the streets ever since we were younger. The youngest guy on the block serving and handling older guys. Jason wasn't scared. He was known to have heart. That's how he got his high status in the hood. I hate it because it's dangerous. People die left to right in the hood and I don't want my boyfriend to be a victim of our environment. I try my best to slow him down as he listens sometimes. It's a work in progress with him. I braided his hair then we sat outside in the backyard. He sparked his blunt and took a long drag. He introduced me to marijuana. He always offered until one day I finally gave in. Now he passes me the blunt when he's smoking. If I did smoke one or two puffs got me right. I'm not a fiend for it so sometimes I decline. Jason thought it was so funny to "Get my innocent self to do something" in his words. Today we vibe without sex. We were together before we did anything sexual so he always assures me that's not why he's with me. A while later Jason left to handle business.

I woke up from a much needed nap. I yawned and checked my phone screen. My notifications read Instagram likes from a selfie I posted earlier and some from Embry and Jason. He called to check on me. We talked until Embry face times me. "Bitch what you doing looking like you just woke up?" Her country accent beaded through the phone. We're from the south side of Atlanta. "I did girl" I chuckled. "You still coming?" Embry asked. "Uhh I guess since Jason is out." I said.  "I'll be there later I'll text you." Embry said and ended the phone call.