My name is Lexi.  I'm 20 year old orphan.  I wasn't always this way.  I had a home and a family.  My parents were actually very well off.  So well off, in fact, that they thought they could get away with anything. 

You see, I'm a red-head.  A natural born, very stubborn red-head.  I can't stand it when people tell me what to do, especially without a reasonable explanation.  So when my parents told me I was not allowed to go to the basement, I naturally wanted to go.  

They kept the door locked.  I had no way of getting in.  I was just about to leave, but I heard crying inside. 

"Hello?  Is anyone there?"

A key slipped from under the door.  I took it.  I opened the door to find a boy about my age.  I was ten at the time.  He looked so scared.  He was so frail and thin.  I could see his bones protruding from his skin.   What was even scarier was seeing his mother tied up in that room.  She was tied up, and looked hurt.  I knew what I had to do.  I took him by the hand and we took off running.  I took him with me through all the hallways and hidden places that the hired help could never find me in, until we were finally outside my house. 

I really didn't know where to go once we were outside.  We couldn't exactly leave through the gate, and I was too short to reach the buttons to type in the code.  We took a dive through the dividing shrubs instead.  I don't know how many lawns we went through like this  before we finally made it to the nearest street.  I guess we caused a commotion with the neighbors.  The police were already waiting for us when we broke away from the last line of shrubs.

A very big, dark-chocolate complected man, with a bald head and thick, muscular arms stooped down on his knees.  We ran to him, screaming "HEEELLLP!"

"What's the matter, little red?"

"They have her at my house!"

I described, a bit spastically I will add, of how I met the boy beside me, and the state his mother was in when we left her.  The cop put us in his squad car, and I gave him directions to my house.

There are three things that I will never forget.  One was the way the boy beside me wailed "MAAAAAMMAAAA!" when they brought her outside, loading her into an ambulance.  I did not realize how bad off she was until she was put in the light.  The second was the look my parents gave me when they were being taken away in handcuffs. "Lexi!  What did you do?"  Looking back now, I guess they were caught red-handed of whatever it was they were prosecuted for.   I never saw my parents again after that day.  The third was the way that little boy and I clung together and cried.  I'm not sure who made the first move, or who was comforting who.  I only know we made each other feel safe.  We fell asleep in the back seat.

I woke up at my grandparents house, but I didn't stay there long.  I guess they resented me for squealing to the cops. And I probably ruined our family's reputation by not being quiet about it.  I ended up being sent to the orphanage because there wasn't anyone in my family that wanted me.

I ended up bouncing around in foster care, going from one bad home to another.  Some of them turned out to be very violent.  I was a big girl by then. I used my size to my advantage, to push people away and fight them off.  Though it did wreck my RAP sheet a bit, claiming I was a violent person and all. 

The last family had a son that tried to get fresh with me.  I came so close to getting hurt.  As always, the parents didn't even try to get my side of the story.  It finally landed me in juvie.  I had lost all hope by then.  On the night my current foster parents told me they were putting me away, I cried by my bedroom window, wondering why about everything.  I looked up at that full moon in the night sky, and poured my heart out of all the things that nobody else was listening to.  But while I aired the linens, I began to realize something important:  I was one tough bitch.  I had been through things that could have been much worse for me, and somehow I managed to pull through.  It was the night I had my own revelations of self love and respect.  No matter what, I would always have my own back.

In the years that followed, I was ready for whatever came my way.  I no longer felt the need to have other people's acceptance of me to feel like I belonged.  I began to accept and love every part of me:  my curves,  my full figure, my big heart, my fiery red hair, and my even more fiery nature.  I learned to respect my temper, and only allow my anger to help me fight my way out of dangerous situations, rather than to allow it to be petty and dig my own hole. 

I'm not sure how I managed, but somehow I got myself a job, graduated from high-school, and put back enough money for my first year of college.  I was living in my own apartment, sharing the rent with friends I worked with at the local diner.  I wanted to work in the social services, and help out girls like me.

I worked the most with a girl named Elana. She was a lovely Latina, and almost as full-figured as me.  She had a crush for the longest time on one of the fella's that liked to play basketball on our block.  She finally talked me into going with her one day.  She wanted me to ask him out for her, as she claimed she was too bashful to do it herself. 

We sat on the bench together, watching the boys play.  I have to admit, it was a pretty good view.  I'd never really pursued boys before, but there was something kind of sexy about watching their sweat-drenched bodies exert themselves to the max. 

There was one there that caught my eye, standing out among the rest.  He was shirtless, his hair pulled back in a man-bun.  I typically didn't like the hairstyle, but to be fair, I didn't really like buns on women either.  This young man though, it suited him.  His hair was pulled back to stay out of his way, and allow him the freedom of movement for what he was trying to do, rather than having that arrogant, "I'm so sexy" look that most men wore with this.  In fact, this one had a much more humble air about him, as if he wasn't even aware of how attractive he was.  I liked the way he played as well:  fairly.  He did not engage in any foul tempers from poor sportsmanship, and we watched him break up a couple of fights, even in that short a time.  He led the way to compromise and fair play.

"So which one is the lucky man?" I asked Elana.

"The one in the man-bun."

I couldn't help but feel a tad disappointed. 

"What's his name?" I asked.

"Hernandez.  Eduardo Hernandez.  Everyone calls him Eddie."

"You have good taste."  I got up and sauntered over to the chain-link fence where they were playing.

I had no idea what I was going to do once I got there, but I did not see coming what happened next.  The moment I put my hand on the fence and leaned in, he noticed me.  So much,he just froze in the middle of the game, allowing another player to knock him down.  He got up, dusted himself off, and allowed somebody else  to take his place.  I observed his walk as he came closer.  This one was a fighter.  I could tell that his feet could be just as lethal as his hands.  Yet his face, handsome as it was, looked so uncertain as he approached.  His eyes looked haunted, as if he had already faced  a thousand dangers and sorrows.

He placed his hand on the chain-link fence near mine.  "Lexi?"

"Do I know you?"

"Sort of.  I was the kid with the key."

My mouth just dropped.  "That kid?"

"Yeah..." He did not elaborate.  There was no need to.

I looked him over, seeing how much healthier he looked,is face and body all filled out and his cheeks a healthy glow.

"You look good," I said.

He gave me a lopsided, goofy grin.  "Thanks."

"How's your mother doing?" I asked.

He looked instantly grateful.  "She's doing a lot better now.  She got married, I was adopted by my dad, and we've all been taking self-defence classes to make up for everything."  He gave me a serious look, like he didn't know where to begin.  "I really don't know what would have happened to us if it weren't for you."

"I'm glad things are better for you." I truly meant it, too.

"Lexi?  Lexi!"

I looked back at Elana.

"Oh no,"  I said.  "I was supposed to ask you out for her."

He gave her a passing glance and turned back to me.  "No offense to your friend, but she takes turns popping the players, and I would like to put a ring on the finger before I become a baby's daddy, or have myself a baby mama."

I was impressed.  "Your mama raised you right."

By now Elana had joined us. She looked more than a little vexed with me.

"Lexi, aren't you supposed to be introducing us by now?"

I was very irritated with her tone with me.

"He Elana," said Eddie.  He sounded like he was just trying to be polite, rather than flirt with her.

"Heeeeeeeeeey," she said with a sultry smile.  "How come you never talked to me before, Eddie?"

"I don't like talking to my hommie's doll, mamacita."

"I ain't nobody's doll, hun."

"That's not what you said yesterday."

"Well, that was yesterday.  Today I would really like to go on a date with you."

"That's sweet of you, but I'm a little preoccupied with Lexi now."

"With Lexi? What the hell do you have planned with her that you couldn't do with me?"

"I'm taking her to see my mother.  They haven't seen each other in a very long time.  I thought they would like to say hello."

"You know him?"  Elana looked pissed.

"Yeah..." I said hesitantly.

Elana walked off in a huff.  Things were going to get nasty when I went home.

"Are you okay?" asked Eddie.

I turned back to him, his eyes full of concern.  Those eyes..... Where did a man like this even come from? He had a pure heart. His eyes mirrored it in his soul.  Did he even know how long ago it had been that a person like this even existed anymore?

"I'm fine."

"Your friend looks awfully mad right now."

"She'll adjust," I said.  "Meanwhile, I really am looking forward to meeting your mom.  When would you like to do this?"

"When would be good for you?"

"Probably this weekend.  It's my next day off."

We made our arrangements, and I ended up walking home alone.  Elana had taken off without me.  I kind of figured this was her way of getting back at me, but I had no idea how far she took things when I went home.  Not one of my roommates would speak to me.  I chose to go to my room and spend some time alone until things would die back down.  I found my roommate, Tameka, waiting for me.

"What's going on between you and Elana?"

"Oi," I said, sighing as I plopped on her bed.

"She didn't get the boy."

"But since when was that your fault?"

"I knew him as a kid from way back.  He recognized me first. Now he wants to reintroduce me to his mom."

"Oh, I bet that messed everything up."

"It did."

"So what are you guys going to do?"

"Me and Elana, or me and the dude?"

"Both."

"Well, I really am looking forward to seeing his mom again.  I would like to see how she is doing now.  As for me and Elana, we'll get over it."

"Sounds fair.  So, how do you know this guy?"

My face got a little crestfallen, then.

"I'd rather not say.  It's complicated."

"Okay," she said.  I knew she would not ask me any more about it.  Tameka was one of the best secret keepers in our group.

Life went on for the next couple of days.  Tameka had to go somewhere for her family plans.  Some group dinner or something.  The rest of the girls still weren't speaking to me.  I ended up showing up late for Eddie.  Elana bailed at the diner, making them have to call me up to fill in.  I don't text him.  I call him. I let him know where I am and when my shift ends.  He said, "Better late than never."  We made plans to meet at eight instead of six.  The boss lady let me off early.  She said I was a hard worker and I deserved it.

I showed up at his house, and rang the doorbell.  It was a nice house.  Not super big or anything, but well kept. You could tell that the people there put a lot of love in it.

I heard the door click open.  Tameka was standing in the doorway.

"Girl, what are you doing here?"

"I'm here to see Eddie.  What are you doing here?"

"For real?  Girl, Eddie is my brother."

Even as she was saying so, a man with a very large frame came beside her, just about filling up the entire doorway.

"I remember you," I said with recognition."  "I'm Little Red."

"Little Red!" said the cop from long ago.  "It's good to see you!"

Tameka stares at me, with a look of newfound understanding.  I knew she now knew why I wished to remain silent.  Some things were better not to be known.  She took me by the hand and led me to the kitchen.  I see Tameka has two more siblings.  One looks about six or seven.  The other looks around two.  A beautiful hispanic woman is feeding the little one at the high-chair.  The older sister, all decked out in pink, was just doting on him.  Eddie was singing and playing on the guitar.  I stayed silent, taking it all in.

"What's on your mind?" asked Tameka.

"This is what a real family looks like, isn't it?" I asked.

"It is."

They welcomed me into their family with open arms, for that evening and for the rest of our lives.  Bernard, Tameka's father, was surprised to hear that I became and orphan after my parents demise.

"I always wondered what happened to you."

Esperanza, Eddie's mother, was especially concerned to hear of my troubles with my foster families. She gave her deepest regrets that things turned out for me the way they did. 

"Don't be sorry.  I'm not."

I looked around at everyone gathered at the table.  I meant it, and they knew it.  I was very thankful, for everyone, to be gathered there.  No matter what had happened to me, I had no regrets for what I had done for them.

We never spoke of the past.  We only focused on the present.  Tameka and I were closer than ever, more like sisters.  And Eddie and I were moving slow and steady in our relationship.  It wasn't something either of us spoke about.  We both just knew.  Our feelings, our attraction, it was mutual. 

I wish I could say that I patched things up with Elana.  She even tried to play that race card, claiming that "white bread" didn't have any place in our circle of friends.  She ended up losing a lot of respect among us, until she finally up and left.  I guess she felt too ashamed of her actions, but too proud to own it.

Meanwhile, Eddie was nothing short of a dream.  He was that rare gentleman that everyone heard or read about but never actually met.  He never did anything without my permission, content to take things slow.  I really needed that in my life.  I had so many that tried to just take what they wanted from me.  I was finally learning to let my guard down,  and how to trust.  I knew he was mine when he called me "princess."  But nothing lasts forever.  He stopped calling me that when we had our newborn daughter.  Now he calls me his queen.

I am very thankful for my life, and how everything turned out to be.  And if there is anything I would wish to pass on to people, never give up hope.  We all have our darkest hour, but like the New Moon slowly changes to it's Full Moon splendor, our lives will continue to get brighter, if we just have the courage to carry on.