Marie

Marie was born on the losing side of life. In Mississippi, where the air was thick with heat and judgment, she learned early that some people got second chances-girls like her didn't. She grew up with dust on her shoes, hunger in her belly, and a last name that carried more weight than she ever could. Her father's reputation bled into hers before she even knew what it meant, and her mother's demons left scars she couldn't see but always felt.

By the time she was old enough to fight back, it was already too late. The streets had their grip on her, whispering promises that felt like freedom but always came with a price. She told herself she wouldn't become them-her mother, her father, the ghosts that haunted her nights. But the world didn't care what she wanted. It pushed her, pulled her, until the choices in front of her weren't choices at all.

And when the time came to cross the line, Marie didn't hesitate. She stepped forward, knowing there was no going back.