It's been a long await for this day to come for me. The butterflies I feel are actually good this time. Everything I went through had me ready to give up on life. I pray constantly for a sign, a miracle, a change for me. God has come through. Here is someone that I always wish I could see again...

"Theo..." I repeated.

"Mahyden..." He finally spoke out.

We stared into each other's eyes. I can't actually believe this is him in front of me. I grab him by his neck and pulled him into a big hug. His hands were still by his sides from the shock. Right when I was about to pull away his arms wrapped around me. This was the most secure I've ever felt in a while. I could finally let the tears release. Tears of joy.

"Oh my god Theo. I can't believe it's you." I cried into the crook of his neck.

"Mahyden..." He sniffles still hugging me. "I thought you were dead."

"You don't know what I've been through Theo..." I pulled back and wiped my tears.

"What happened to you? Why did you leave me? What... What is this?" He asks looking around the room and at my scars.

"I don't know what to say Theo..." I say, running my hands through my hair.

He stands up from the bed and paces the room. "You don't know what to say? You can't start by explaining why the fuck you ran away. You can also start by explaining why the fuck you at my uncle's crib for. Better yet, explain to me what I did for you to leave me Mahyden?" He drops down to his knees in front of me. The tears streaming down his face.

"You honestly think this is about you? Theo I left because I had no other choice. It was either stay there and die or get away." I argue.

"You could've came with me." He lifts up my chin.

I push his hand away. "We were sixteen. I couldn't be on my own and no matter if I would've left or not I would've still been found." I sigh.

"You didn't let me protect you. You just ran away from your problems Mahyden. Take responsibility." He said, semi yelling.

"Responsibility? You don't know what it's like Theo. I ran away to be free of all the troubles at home. I come here to be faced with even more. I thought your uncle was my savior until he started using drugs and forcing me to. He raped me, and is still holding me hostage here."

Theo got up from his knees and sat next to me on the bed as I broke down. He grabbed my hand in his. "Tell me everything. Help me understand."

I wiped my tears once more and began to tell him my story. I'll leave out the Jalonni drama for now.

"You want to know the PG version of the story or the Rated R?" I ask.

"I can handle the truth..." He says, still holding his stare.

I let out a long sigh. "I ran away to get away from my dad and Jalonni. I couldn't handle their constant mental torture to me. When I first got to Sorth Carolina, I was lost. I had no friends down here, nor any relatives. I just didn't want to be faced with people who knew my family."

"But I would've hid you." He cuts me off.

"Let me finish..." I place my finger on his lips. "Lamont was one of the first people I met when I was sleeping at the bus stations. He was kind, gentle, and he took me in. He out me up in a hotel for some month without asking for any favors. Then everything went left once he started asking me for sex and oral. I was still young, so I didn't get why he was as old as he was asking me for that."

Theo snatched his hand away and sat forward.

"Do you want me to continue?" I ask.

He nods yes.

"One day he came in high, and forced me to sniff the drugs. After that he raped me. When he left I ran away again. I found myself laying in an alley of a whore house. A whore by the name of Isis came and found me. She took me into the whorehouse and sheltered me. Over time I got accustomed to her, and met the man over all of the whores, Daddy Mac."

"The fuck type of name is that?" Theo questioned.

I shrugged. "His name... Daddy Mac took a liking to me. He let me stay and learn the flow of the place. Isis took me out with her to the club she worked at. She was the bottom bitch so she worked and pulled the reigns of everything. I was fascinated that she was a stripper. I saw how much money she was making and decided to go roam around. I was actually looking for the bathroom but found the male side of the strip club."

Theo finally looked back at me. I averted looking at him in his eyes because I could tell the hurt was yet to come.

"Once I got over there I soon found out it was amateur night. I participated and won. I needed the money and it felt good to have some in my hands. Later on I decided I wanted to work there. I didn't want to strip but I could have served food and things. Despite the various warnings I got; I still did it anyway. My first night working I was raped again by a stranger."

I stopped because I started to tear up. Theo came up and hugged me again but I pushed him away. His eyes looked softened and hurt by my story.

"I need to finish..." I clear my throat. "I tried to quit but Daddy Mac wouldn't let that happen. My spirit was broken, and I gave up hope from then on. I started to cut myself, Daddy Mac would leave me drugs to do, and I started getting high before performances. I ended up getting really close with this boy named Vontez. He was a great friend to me and a wonderful person."

"Was? What happened? " Theo asked.

"When I tried to get away Daddy Mac killed him..." I said plainly. I cried all I could for him.

"I'm so sorry Mahyden." Theo says.

"Him and I stopped talking for a while because I did something that I should've had better judgement on. All my life I have tried to give people the benefit of the doubt that they could be good people. I went on what was supposed to be a date with this boy. Long story short I ended up getting raped again. Him and all his friends raped and beat me. They recorded the video, and posted it.

Theo's eyes got big. "Were y'all in a basement or something?" He asks, standing up.

"Yes..." I respond watching him move around.

"FUCK!" He punches the wall.

"Theo stop before Lamont comes in. What's wrong?" I whisper.

"That man gone. That was my punk ass cousin. Uncle Lamont's son. I'll kill him." He seethed with rage.

I sat back on the bed in shock.

"I never realized it was you. I should've been smarter. When he showed me the video I couldn't help but feel some sort of guilt. You were crying and begging. You were bleeding and--- GOD !" He screamed out.

I stood up from the beg and hugged him. It was sad hearing about my torture all over again. He pushed me back and I fell onto the bed.

"To be real with you Mahyden you didn't deserve any of that. But, admit it... None of this would have happened had you not went to that club in the first place. You have common sense, so how could you not realize when you were obviously gonna be taken advantage of? It not easy looking at all these marks on your body. Cuts, burns, scratches, and holes this shit is sad. All you ever had to do was tell somebody." He snapped.

I curl up on the bed. Everything he said was true I wanted every moment of it. I deserved what I got because I'm a coward. He finally stops pacing and walks over to the bed. "I'm sorry..."

"Don't be. You're right. I loved every moment of it in my own sick way."

"That's not what I meant."

"Take me..." I said, catching him off guard.

"Huh?" He said, confused.

"I want you to take me." I pull him down with me by his shirt. I pull him into a kiss and he places his hands on both sides of my head. I start to let little tears fall because of his touch.

Theo pulls away and looks at me. "I can't do it..." He stands up again. "Not like this. You deserve a better first time with me."

"I understand..." I respond. "Can I ask you a question."

"Go ahead." He says, crossing his arms.

"How are my brothers?" I ask, skeptically. I don't know if they survived Jalonni's wrath.

Theo wipes down his face and shakes his head. "Last I heard Faizon was good but La'rey was in the hospital."

"WHAT!" I jump up from the bed.

"Yeah. He fell down the stairs in y'all's house. Jalonni rushed him there."

"That's bullshit. I just know he didn't fall." I reply, punching the wall behind me.

"How else would he have ended up there then?" Theo asks.

"I don't know." I lie...

"Jalonni is a police officer now. He'll handle it if there is any foul play involved. "

I glance over at Theo. "He caused it Theo... You remember what he did to me." I begin to cry again as my head begins to hurt. "Theo..." I call out to him as I fall onto the floor and everything goes blank.

-------

When I opened my eyes again I was in a new room. The lights lit up the room. I could see a TV on front of me, and a nightstand. I sat up from the fluffy pillow my head way on, and looked around. I saw the door to what I guess was the bathroom open. Theo emerged from the bathroom in only a towel.

"Drink some of that water beside you.. " He directs me.

I look to my side and pick up the small glass of water. I also take the pill next to it. Once I throw the pill inside my mouth, I gulp down the water. "Where are we?" I ask, clearing my throat.

"We at a hotel for now. I'm gonna get you away from here. For now you have to hide out until I get up enough money."

"Theo you don't have t--"

He cuts me off. "Don't start Mahyden. I couldn't protect you then but I'm here now."

"Okay..." I say in defeat.

"You hungry?" He asks, sliding on his underwear under his towel.

"Nope. I just want to talk to you." I pat the pillow next to me.

He comes over and sits on the bed. "I'm here to listen."

"What type of boys did my brothers grown up into?" I ask, crossing my legs.

"La'rey real outspoken now. He looks out for Faizon 24/7. Faizon really been staying at my house when Jalonni is at the academy. Faizon has something going on with him though. I overheard him telling Carter that he does shit to piss Jalonni off just so he will pay him some attention. He thinks Jalonni or your dad doesn't love him how they love La'rey. You know why he acts like that?"

I sigh and lean my head back onto the bed frame. "He has Schizophrenia. I always made him take his medicine and kept him under control. I already know why he's looking for that affection from Jalonni. I was always there for my brothers and now I'm not there to protect them."

"He's at my house right now. Do you want to call him?"

I shake my head in protest. "No I can't... They hate me."

"No they don't. They miss you. You are all they could talk about. It's not the best thing but calling them gives them some type of confirmation." He says holding his cell out for me to take.

I look at him and smile. I take the phone from him, and walk into the bathroom. I take a deep breathe as I stare at Carter's number. Here goes nothing I guess.