Chapter 8

Cpov

I'm listening to my goddess speak and she is such a wonderful speaker. She has the whole room listening to every word and agreeing. She looks into my eyes and again I get the nervous knot in my stomach and I can feel my family's eyes on me. I just stare right back at her and don't care. Yes, baby I am here and I am never leaving. What she says next however has me rooted to my spot and speechless.

"When I was here in school in Seattle I was sixteen and I was practicing for a musical for weeks. At this school, I was repeatedly spat on, hair pulled, girls made boys groped and grabbed at me. I was repeatedly sexually harassed, physically and mentally abused the worst yet. One day I was practicing and I was attacked by three girls and was tied down. I had the worst physically experience to date and I will not go into detail tonight. I do not want to dwell on the memory that has haunted my dreams for six years. Needless to say, I was left both mentally and physically scarred. As I was laying there tied I was helpless and I decided right there and then that life wasn't worth living. I was going to kill myself that night. I am here to tell you all tonight that one person and one person alone decided to stand up and fight. That boy saved my life and I have forever been thankful to him. Thankfully, I was saved from doing the unspeakable and was able to achieve my life dream. Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture, you can change a person's life. For better or for worse God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Look for God in others."

She mouths thank you to me and I continue to stare at her as the lights are dimmed on her. She was going to kill herself? I cannot live without her in my life, she has been on my mind every day since I saw her in that hallway.

"Christian dear have you met her before? Was she talking about you?" My mother asks me quietly and all I can do is nod my head yes as I am so chocked up. Why wouldn't she talk to anyone?

"Mom she is my mystery girl I told you about. I have thought about her for six years every day and every night. I have followed her career since she was signed, which happened to be the day I signed my first deal. I know I am the most wanted man but I don't want that if I can't have her. That day I saved her I felt something change in my heart. Ever since then I have felt nothing like that with anyone else. I feel like I was meant for her. Why would she want me? I am so scarred physically and mentally I am a monster." I tell my mom everything and she reaches up and wipes my eyes and kisses my cheek. She grabs my hands in hers and looks me in the eyes. No one can to this day has been able to touch me except Anastasia.

"Christian you are not a monster; you have a troubled past just like her. She has come through so much as you just heard. There is someone made for everyone and I feel like the two of you are made for each other. You have lived your life and made your dream come true with your business these past six years. You need to start living your life for you. If you cannot live without her then don't let her escape again."

"Your right mom and I have a plan for tonight." I wink at her and kiss her cheek as the lights rise on the stage and music starts playing.

"Good evening Seattle these first two songs are for all those children out there."

"Little boy, six years old A little too used to bein' alone. Another new mom and dad, another school, another house that'll never be home. When people ask him how he likes this place, He looks up and says with a smile upon his face. This is my temporary home, it's not where I belong. Windows in rooms that I'm passin' through. This is just a stop, on the way to where I'm going, I'm not afraid because I know this is my Temporary home. Young mom on her own, she needs a little help got nowhere to go. She's lookin' for a job, lookin' for a way out. Cause a half-way house will never be a home. At night she whispers to her baby girl, someday we'll find a place here in this world. This is our temporary home, It's not where we belong. Windows in rooms that we're passin' through, this is just a stop, on the way to where we're going. I'm not afraid because I know this is our Temporary Home. Old man, hospital bed, the room is filled with people he loves. And he whispers don't cry for me, I'll see you all someday. He looks up and says "I can see God's face". This is my temporary Home, it's not where I belong. Windows in rooms that I'm passin' through, this was just a stop, on the way to where I'm going. I'm not afraid because I know this was My temporary home. This is our temporary home."

The event roars with applause and she walks to the microphone. She smiles and her smile just lights me up inside. She is so gorgeous and I think God could not have anyone more perfect. My mom is loving this attention to her charity tonight.

"Thank you everyone this next song is brand new I wrote exclusively last night for this event. Once this song is recorded all proceeds from this song will benefit Coping Together. This song is called concrete Angel please be patient and kind as this has never been performed." My mother gasps as she holds my hand. She is truly an angel my angel to do this. She has a heart of gold.

She closes her eyes as the most elegant sound comes from the piano. She sways as she steps her keg out with her split and I am becoming uncomfortable in my pants. I have never been hard unless I am in her presence and I love the feeling. It makes me feel like I belong to her.

"She walks to school with the lunch she packed. Nobody knows what she's holdin' back. Wearin' the same dress She wore yesterday. She hides the bruises with linen and lace. (Oh oh) The teacher wonders but she doesn't ask. It's hard to see the pain behind the mask. Bearing the burden of a secret storm. Sometimes she wishes she was never born. Through the wind and the rain, she stands hard as a stone. In her world that she can rise above but her dreams give her wings. And she flies to a place where she's loved, Concrete angel. Somebody cries in the middle of the night. The neighbors hear, but they turn out the lights. A fragile soul caught in the hands of fate. When morning comes It'll be too late. Through the wind and the rain, she stands hard as a stone. In her world that she can rise above but her dreams give her wings. And she flies to a place where she's loved concrete angel. A statue stands in a shaded place, An angel girl with an upturned face. A name is written on a polished rock, A broken heart that the world forgot. Through the wind and the rain, she stands hard as a stone. In her world that she can rise above but her dreams give her wings. And she flies to a place where she's loved, Concrete angel."

Holy shit she wrote that in one night? She has a true talent and I'm so proud of her that she can embrace it. She has hit the head on the nail with that song with this charity. It is what my parents have done. They saved the three of us from abuse and hopefully through this charity more children and mothers can be saved. I am entranced when she is on stage singing as she sings her heart out it is truly an angel from heaven singing. My mother is crying next to me as Anastasia opens her eyes and winks at us and takes some water.

"Thank you everyone. As we know the second reason we are here tonight is bullying. As the world, will know after tonight I was a victim and I am coming out and not hiding anymore. A wise woman told me tonight to not hide and embrace my gift with the world. Well I contacted one of my best friends Kelly Clarkson, she has agreed for me to sing this tonight and at my upcoming tour." Mia is bouncing in her seat and my Anastasia is right my mother is the wisest woman I have ever met.

"You know I was broke down, I had hit the ground. I was crying out; I couldn't make no sound. No one hears the silent tears collecting, you know I had lost hope, I was all alone. Never been so long till you came along teacher, I feel the dots connecting. Beat down on me, beat down like a waterfall. Cause I can take on so much more than I had ever dreamed. So beat down on me, beat down like a waterfall, Cause baby, I am ready to be free. Now I am invincible, No, I ain't a scared little girl no more. Yeah, I am invincible, what was I running for, I was hiding from the world. I was so afraid, I felt so unsure. Now I am invincible another perfect storm. Now I am a warrior, a shooting star. I know I got this far, had a broken heart, No one hears the silent tears collecting. Cause it's being weak, but strong in the truth I found. I have courage now, gonna shout it out. Teacher, I feel the dots connecting. Beat down on me, beat down like a waterfall. Cause I can take on so much more than I had ever dreamed. So beat down on me, beat down like a waterfall. Cause baby, I am ready to be free. Now I am invincible, No, I ain't a scared little girl no more. Yeah, I am invincible, what was I running for. I was hiding from the world, I was so afraid, I felt so unsure. Now I am invincible another perfect storm. I was running from an empty threat of emptiness. I was running from an empty threat, that didn't exist. I was running from an empty threat of abandonment. I was running from an empty threat, that didn't exist. But now I am invincible, No, I ain't a scared little girl no more. Yeah, I am invincible, what was I running for. I was hiding from the world. I was so afraid, I felt so unsure. Now I am invincible another perfect storm. Now I am invincible. No, I ain't a scared little girl no more. Yeah, I am invincible, what was I running for (What was I running for). I was hiding from the world, I was so afraid, I felt so unsure (I was so unsure). Now I am invincible another perfect storm."

"Thank you everyone for having me here tonight. I look forward to seeing those at the meet and greet tonight in an hour. Thank you again everyone and the Grey Family for this wonderful charity and this wonderful opportunity." She points to us as my father and mother stand and everyone applauds. "Here is my final song for the night my newest hit from my new record Standing right next to me. I pray that one day we may all experience this elusive kind of love." She stares at me again and I feel my stomach have the famous butterflies.

"Love is like the wind, sometimes it blows your way. And until now It missed me somehow. But when I turned around I saw you standing there. The sound of your Voice-I had no choice. I used to have a wish one day I'd feel like this. Now I know love exists Cause it's standing right next to me. Beneath the moon tonight I see it in your eyes. No more false starts, No more broken hearts. I used to have a wish one day I'd feel like this. Now I know love exists Cause it's standing right next to me. Even in the dark, even when you're gone I feel you in my heart. I used to have a wish one day I'd feel like this. Now I know love exists. Cause it's standing right next to me. Standing right next to me."

Everyone stands and is screaming and applauding. I feel myself crying and I hear my mother crying. She bows and as she exits the stage she turns and smiles at me and winks. I know she knows who I am I just need to grow some balls and get my woman. One more hour till our plan and I'm going to lay it all on the line on how I feel.

"I don't like country music but she is hot, and that was a damn fine performance. Little bro I saw you drooling over there, you need to make a move or someone else will. I know it was you who helped her after what Kate did. I am ashamed to know that I was almost going to marry that woman." Elliott tells me.

"I have a plan Elliott after all it has been six years and tonight that ends."

I do not take credit to the songs.

1. Temporary home by Carrie Underwood

2. Concrete Angel by Martina McBride

3. Invincible by Kelly Clarkson

4. Standing right next to me by Karla Bonoff