You Need the Darkness to See the Stars.

MacKenzie James

TRIGGER WARNING! This chapter talks a little about domestic violence. I tried not to get to graphic with it. If this triggers you please stop reading at the ********

Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, this 28 year old was surrounded by opportunity her whole life. Her beauty, her brains and her god given talent helped. She could sing like no other and taught herself how to play piano and guitar. She was ambitious. IF she didn't already know how, she'd sure as hell learn. She never backed down from a challenge. And it's been like that her whole life.

After graduating high school and before starting college Kenzie met the love of her life, Charlie. He gave her the confidence to take on the world. She started playing at clubs and bars occasionally.  Homemade videos were going up on YouTube about once a week. And she grew a fan base. She never expected to be famous. And to be honest she wasn't. College was her priority, not music. So when the semester started her focus turned more to her studies and her attentive boyfriend. Posts became few and far between. But other opportunities would come.

After college MacKenzie got a small acting job in Nashville. She played a female role in couple music video's here and there. Kenzie and Charlie moved to Nashville, Tennessee to accommodate her new job. Charlie had also proposed to her. And they were planning a wedding. Mackenzie also took this chance to get back into her YouTube channel. As the views on each video climbed, the more work she would get. And the more her and Charlie grew apart.

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Charlie wasn't a fan of all the attention she was receiving not just from doing country music videos but also the attention she was receiving online. The once supportive boyfriend, fiancé and best friend was no more. He grew angry and jealous. He turned abusive, mentally and physically. But this just made her turn to her work even more. After Charlie would have his drunken rage and leave her in a battered mess. She'd stay up silently crying to herself while she either wrote music or taught herself another song because music was the only thing getting her through her day. There was always a song that she could relate too and if there wasn't, she was determined to make one. When they were together in public they looked like the perfect couple. Even though Charlie hated her job, that was his bread and butter. He had been finding it hard to get work in Nashville. So while he "looked" they were living off her YouTube royalties and the money she was making from acting. She wasn't even bitter about it. She just hoped nothing but the best for him. Having faith that things would change soon.

This went on for months. Charlies drinking got worse. Each fight was getting worse. Each bruise was getting bigger. Each gash was getting deeper. But Kenzie would trudge on. Hiding her defeat behind the makeup. She knew she was losing herself. The girl she was back in college, who could face the whole world, was starting to disappear. Instead of being outspoken and positive she was quiet and weary. Her career slowed since she couldn't take work after the beatings Charlie would lay on her.  This time was the last. She promised herself that. Especially since the cops had been called.

She told herself that when she was close to being all healed up she was leaving. She wasn't posting his bail. She was going to let him sit long enough for her to get her own place pack her shit and never look back. Hell she didn't care if he spent the rest of his life there. She was done.