"Let me go! Please! Don't do this!" I tried to pull away from the teenage boys that grabbed me into this dark alley. "Shut up and be still!".

I jumped out of my bed and ran to the bathroom. I looked at myself in the mirror and I looked a mess. I had tears coming down my face and my hair was everywhere. I turned on the water and dashed some water over my face. I walked back to my room and looked for my phone. I looked over at Malik in his bed on the other side of our room. He was sleeping peacefully with no worries.

The time on my phone read 2:54 am. I sat in my bed with my back against the headboard. Why Justin? I would normally be able to call him right now and he would comfort me. I went through all the missed messages and voicemails from people that hit me up me about Justin. I tried to shake the tears away. It's been a couple weeks since his tragic death.

I texted Braydon to check on him but he hasn't been texting me back. He had stopped coming to school and I was getting worried about him. As I waited on his text, I got on Wattpad and started to read a book called "Save My Soul" by SlimSociety_ . It's about a girl named Chase and a boy named Myles and they are different in so many ways but they cross paths and now they are starting to date.

I heard sniffling coming from outside my door. I walked through my room and to my door. I opened it to find Harmony on her knees crying. "Why Lyric? Why?" She asked looking up at me. I couldn't let myself cry. I'm all cried out. I just kneeled down and held my sister.

*Later That Morning*

"Harmony, you should stay home today. It doesn't look like you got much sleep.", my drunk aunt pointed out. My aunt had been staying here for the last 3 days. She's always drunk and makes moma act differently. I picked Malik up and sat him in the chair.

"Tete, I'm okay.", Harmony simply replied.

Momma looked at Harmony and shook her head. I fed Malik his oatmeal and eggs or he would've had it everywhere.

"Lyric, did you do your paper for Ms. Creemer?", Harmony asked grabbing her keys off the counter.

"Yea I started it but I'm not sure if it's too much. I might start over." I wiped Malik's mouth and removed the plate from in front of him.

"I wish you would let that boy feed himself. He ain't gone never grow up.", Aunt Teresa directed towards me.

"TeTe, please don't start this with me. I just dressed him for school. I don't want him having food everywhere then we'd be late." I stated.

"Come on Malik. Put your jacket on and grab your book bag." I instructed as I scooted his chair out.

I ran upstairs and retrieved my phone, book bag and English papers off my nightstand. I turned off my light and closed my door.

"Harmony fix ya' shirt. That's why lil' boys be looking all down ya cleavage. It's all out for them to see." I came down the stairs and saw Harmony rolling her eyes.

"I'll be glad when y'all get out my sister house," she continued. I grabbed Malik and my keys.

"And you and yo lil attitude. Take ya son and find y'all somewhere else to go," she said two inches away from my face.

"Ma, get yo sister out my face," I said to moma. "You drunk! It's too early in the morning for this." I laughed to myself and walked towards the front door.

"When you get out of school, all your stuff will be on the front.", she said taking a sip of Hennessy out her cup. I looked between her and moma. "Moma, if I come back and any of my stuff on the front. I mean anything, I will burn this house down." I said opening the front door and walking out.

"Harmony, you riding with me?", I asked as she walked out of the house and slammed the door.

"Naw, cus I can't leave my car here with the devil." She replied hopping in her car and speeding off. I strapped Malik in and did the same but in the opposite direction. I dropped him off to his school and headed to Central.

School's been a lil different without Justin around. Our group is more clingy than before. Probably because we're scared we'll lose someone else. "Ainsley, come here bae," Jordan called out to Ainsley as I got out the car and headed towards them.

"Bruh, stop playing with me," Patrick said walking up from the opposite direction..

"Hey, yall," I laughed at them as they bickered back and forth. Waylah walked up and we all greeted her. We all talked and laughed amongst ourselves to pass time. The bell rang for everyone to go to first hour. "Is Harm here yet?", I asked as everyone went their separate ways.

"We haven't seen her yet," they all said in unison.

I walked to English class and sat at my desk. I pulled out my notebook and started free writing.

"Only I Know What It Feels Like To Live My Life. It Feels Like Walking On Needles Or Eating A Knife. I Thought This Pain Was Temporary, Could End Within Days. I Thought It Was A Piece Of Cake But It's More Like A Maze."

"Okay, class. Take out your poems that you were instructed to do last week.", Ms. Creemer said interrupting my free write. I grabbed my binder and flipped to my poem. We were instructed to write a poem covering the three emotions; happiness, sadness, and anger. Everyone in the class braced themselves. Ms. Creemer is known for calling on random people to recite their work.

"Okay Jalen, how about you come up first.", she insisted. Majority of the classroom snickered and Jalen huffed, making his way to the front.

"What's funny class?", Ms. Creemer asked. I looked around at all the students laughing. I honestly didn't find anything funny.

"Ms. C., you, I and everyone in this class know, Jalen isn't capable of reading. Let alone writing a poem." Chasity said laughing, making a few people giggle.

Jalen was new at school this year. He's about 5'9, caramel colored. He has hazel brown eyes and dreads down his back. He claims he is a football star but we will see next week. For the past two weeks, he hasn't actually excelled in the writing criteria. But not everyone has a passion for writing, or in my case, a talent.

"When I was just a lil boy,
momma gave me up for adoption.
She claimed she wasn't ready for kids and didn't have money for shopping.
I wanted to be angry,
But for some reason, I couldn't be.
Giving me up for adoption,
was the best thing for me."

I stood up and clapped. Most people don't understand the meaning of poetry. It's to let go steam and to show people what you really feel. It don't always have to be a touchy subject though.

"Thank you A'Lyric.", Jalen said with his head held down.

"That was very nice of you to show us a personal outlook on your life.", I told him as he sat down in his seat.

"Yes, Jalen. Thank you for that. Now A'Lyric, why don't you come up and share yours." Ms. Creemer said. I looked at Jalen and he was giving me all his attention. I changed my original poem as he was reciting his. I had to tone it up a notch.

"Jay took away my innocence,
And I was afraid to love.
But then I met Braydon,
He was perfectly sent from above.
From the results of being raped,
I was blessed to have a lil boy.
At first, I was angry,
But Malik filled my life with joy.
I couldn't wait to start my senior year,
Ready to step into the real world.
But then I lost my best friend,
Giving this senior year a swirl."

When I was done, nobody said anything. Not a clap, good job or anything. "Wow!", Chasity exclaimed.

"A'Lyric that was wonderful." another student said.

As I made my way to my desk, everyone congratulated me and gave me hugs. Many people didn't know I was raped and only a few knew I had a child. The bell rang and the intercom followed it.

"A'Lyric Keys, please report to the office. A'Lyric Keys." I grabbed my binder and walked out into the hall.

I moved through the crowd of people and made my way to the main office. When I got there, I saw my sister, my moma, and two police officers and Principal Jones. Lord what could possibly be wrong. I walked into the office expecting the worst.