Black and Scarred

"...broken and abandoned are the two words that describe my life, mama. I can't live my life the way I want to because my past still haunts me."

I hung my head in embarrassment. I peered through my swollen, teary eyes only to see a wicked smile appear on my mother's lips. Her eyes were cold and heartless, just like my father's.

"Logan, you know Leroy and I never wanted a girl right?" She replied, taking a hit from her cigarette and letting the smoke from her mouth fill the already contaminated air. "All we wanted was boys. Little girls were too much of a handful to deal with. That's why we gave you to Grandma Lela later on. I knew I couldn't deal with you anymore."

Here I am trying to make amends with my mama and this is what I get in return.

'I knew this was a bad idea.' I told myself.

I was knocked out of my thoughts when a hand slapped across my face. "Look at me when I'm talking to you! I'm yo mama, you hear?"

"Act like it then!" I spat at her. I was tired of being treated like a dog from everyone I knew other than Gran, Tim, TJ, and Madison. My life wasn't lollipops and rainbows but I damn sure wasn't about to let it be a living hell like it was before. Time to take back what's rightfully mine: my happiness.
_________________________________

Logan Barns had a hard life growing up. Between her mother, father and her two older brothers beating and performing sexual acts on her and having to deal with the on going pressure of being a"perfect black woman", she wonders whether her life is worth it. Just when she's about to give up, she's rescued by her grandmother, who takes her from her mother with no questions. Her life from then on gradually becomes better. Eventually, she graduates from high school with her best friend Madison, and they move to where Logan can conquer her dreams of becoming a lawyer. There she meets Trey, who sees her more than just a friend. Will Logan's childhood scars prevent her from moving on to her bright future?