Nia is now a grown woman. A cold one. While she's trying to protect her heart, one guy will attempt to eat away at the wall she has built. An ode to Black mental health and self care. Read Soft & Strength (in this order) first.

Naiya couldn't do this anymore. Last night was her breaking point. If she had to stay here another night, she would probably slit her wrists just so she wouldn't have to endure them any longer. But could she really get away? She had to do something, anything, to get away. No money, barely any suitable clothes, and no one to turn to for help. Well, there is Alphonse Wyatt... "...I can take you away from here. I came here with a proposition for you Naiya. I can take you away from here, you'll live with me and never have to come back here again." "Really?" He nodded. "I...I don't know what to say." "You can say yes...but I do have something that I need you to do." She shook her head, "Anything. Mr. Wyatt I will do anything you need me to do. If you need me to get a job, anything-" He smiled at her, "Not necessarily. I want to hire you for something..."

Works #1: Ahmad Hassan Sinclair, 25, was taught to always fight and work hard for what he wanted. In the life he was given nothing was ever handed to him. He grew up in the hoods of Houston, witnessing things no child should ever see in their life. His mom and pop worked hard just tryna make ends meet, to keep food on the table and clothes on their kids back. But it was far from easy .. Seeing his parents struggle the way they did for years, motivated him to work ten times harder. He made it a mission to not end up like his folks, he wanted more in life. He knew there was more to life than what he grew up seeing. But he also knew in order to be somebody in this world as a black man he had to fight and strive for it and also dodge the bullshit that came along with it. He set goals, he had dreams, he had a vision and nothing could stop him from achieving them. Now that he's at the top of his game, making money, living the live he always wanted, seeing the things he never seen and moving up the success path .. he figured life would eventually turn out to be great but sadly he still isn't happy or content with how things are.. there's this one missing piece in his life that will fully complete him. But let's see how determined Ahmad will be to find what that missing piece is or what he will do to get it.

***2018 Wattys "Heartbreakers" Award" ***A Wattpad Featured Story*** For the Forbidden Love Anthology #FLA2018 contest. When Joy Richards finds a video of her husband having sex with another woman she is devastated. While trying to decide how to proceed with her marriage, she realizes how important keeping her family together is, and decides to stay. After agreeing to a night out with her best friend, an innocent evening turns into so much more. They say that two wrongs don't make a right, but Joy believes getting even is the only way she can move forward. Word Count: 1996 Contest Prompt 10: Someone hires a stripper