Time Period: A Flashback

Date: 4-24-1990

Concerned, Brandon squeezes my hand. "Brenz, you look pale. I can take you back home

if you are feeling unwell?" he offers. He doesn't know that I am two weeks pregnant.

"I am fine" I lie trying to hold back my vomit. Although I am nauseous, I still mange to

walk toward the school building. Dominque's face increases my anxiety even more.

The word, dynamite which is my nickname for him slips off my tongue. He kisses me

and I lose control over my body. I vomit in front of him and our peers. A fainting spell

sends me to the hospital emergency room. I wake up to chaos, total destruction of my

family and love life. At least I have the right to decide between life or death.


Date: 9-10-1990

Depressed, I stare out of the bus window. The world passes me by. I wonder would anyone

miss me if I committed suicide? I have a job, an apartment and unborn twins, but that doesn't

mean I am completely happy. What I desire the most is a friend. Right on cue, a handsome

young black man sits by me. His name is Kurt Evergreen. He appears to be a few years older

than me, probably early twenties. Surpringly, this kind fellow is my neighbor. Like a flower,

our friendship quickly begins to blossom.


Date: 12-25-1990

"Merry Christmas, princess" I cry placing a teddy bear and balloons on Dawn's tombstone.

Kennedy's twin sister, Dawn died at birth five days ago. Thankfully, Kennedy is asleep in his stroller

so he can't watch me fall apart. "There is a butterfly on your shoulder" Kurt points out. "You are

beautiful" I tell Dawn's spirit. Dawn's spirit flies away and I never see her again. "Kennedy and I

will be moving to Atlanta in January because I have a new job there" I announce to Kurt. Kurt

considers my departure to be bittersweet.


Date: 3-14-2000

City: Atlanta, Georgia

Time of day: Evening

While heading out of the door to go to Walmart, Kennedy and I encounter Kevin Chase.

He smells of cigarettes and whiskey, but I kiss him anyway. Only God knows what he has been

doing all day. My pregnancy announcement shocks him. He promises we can talk about the baby

at a later time. I am in such a rush that I overlook the pain and sorrow in his tired eyes. Later on,

my other neighbors tell me that he committed suicide.


Date: 11-30-2000

Drifting in and out of consciousness, I wake up in a bloody bed. I conclude I am hemmoraghhing.

Severely dehydrated, I try my best to prepare Kennedy for school. Going to the hospital is a distant

thought. I must take care of my son first. This has been my main priority even going through a

biopsy a few months ago. The doorbell rings and I beg Kennedy to answer the door.

I collapse in the arms of my good friend and neighbor, Catherine. When I wake up, I find myself

at Grady hospital. I am face to face with my daughter, Maisie Prudence Walsh who was delivered

via an emergency cesarean section.