Come here! shouts Monique’s stepdad. “Your mom will

be home late tonight again. Come in here, and do her job” Dennis

firmly says to Monique. “I don’t feel good tonight” Monique

replies. As she runs to her room, Dennis gets mad and

storms to Monique’s room where he kicks open the door.

Monique screams “Get out of my room”. Dennis gets

furious and pulls Monique by her hair, and begins to choke her

he then says “Don’t you ever tell me no again. Do you hear

me?”Monique tries to gasp for air. Monique replies

“I’m sorry Okay!” Dennis starts kissing Monique on

the neck. Monique closes her eyes tightly as Dennis

fondles her breast. Tears swell in Monique’s eyes.

Dennis lays Monique across her bed and rapes her,

like most nights when her mom works late. Dennis finishes

and leaves Monique on the bed crying. Monique lies in

the same position until morning. The sun shines through

the window and heats on Monique’s face. Monique gets

out of bed, showers and comes down to go to school. On Monique’s

way out, Stephanie her mother says “Monique don’t you

want breakfast?”.Monique rolls her eyes and says “Look I have

to get to school!”Monique really doesn’t want to see

Dennis. After Monique’s departure Stephanie says “What

is wrong with that girl? Bad attitude, hmm hmm hmm” Dennis

replies “Children these days are ungrateful! Don’t worry

your beautiful head with that girl’s foolishness.”At school

now Monique is sitting on the bleachers listening to her

iPod. Sebastian sees her and climbs the bleachers he says

to Monique “Hey Mo!”Monique says “hey bas!”Sebastian

sees something wrong in Monique’s face. Sebastian asks “What’s wrong

Mo?”Monique says “Nothing!”Sebastian says “Come on Mo

I’ve known you since middle school. I know when something

is bothering you. Monique replies “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Sebastian can tell from the look in Monique’s eyes whatever it

Is it is serious. Sebastian starts telling Monique about his night.

“I got home around 3:35 am, because I wanted to avoid my folks.

My mom was so high she was higher than usual on those damn

pills. My old man had the floor around the lazy boy covered with

beer cans. I tried to avoid them by coming in late, but they were

still up when I returned home. My dad was on me as soon as

I hit the door. He was punching me, and slapping me asking

me where I was as if he really cared. I told him “If your drunk ass

and your zombie pill popper on the couch would get off your asses

and be real parents you would know where I’ve been. My mom went into

a rage after I said that and started throwing stuff at me. I ran up

to my room with a busted lip and some bruises here and there.

Some days are worse than others. Sebastian looked up at Monique

And saw the tears on her face. Monique parted her lips the words

spewed out in a rush. Sebastian sat on side of Monique to wrap

his arms around her. He then spoke “That son of a b”! Monique

buried her head in between Sebastian’s chest and arm. Monique said

“I don’t want to go home” as she sobbed, and clenched Sebastian’s coat.

Sebastian replied “We don’t have to go home, neither of us.”Monique

looked up at Sebastian and asked “What are we going to do?”We

have no money no car nothing.”How will we get anything done?”

Sebastian replied “I’ll take care of you I promise.”Monique

smiled. Sebastian says “Let’s leave today…Now!”Monique

and Sebastian walks off school grounds to set out on

their journey from Louisiana to California. They walk along

highway 90 the sun is scorching their foreheads. They stop at

a rest stop to use the bathroom, and water themselves down

for relief from the sun. They are sitting on a bench talking. When

a trucker walks over to them and asks “Are you guys looking

for a ride?”The trucker’s eyes are fixed on Monique. Sebastian

stands in front of Monique and replies “Sure are! We are on our

way to California. The trucker replies “You sure are lucky. I’m on my way

to California. Would you like a ride? I could sure use the company. By

the way my name is Logan.”Sebastian shook Logan’s hand and

replied “I’m Sebastian and this is my fiancée Monique.”Monique

looked puzzled. Logan headed back to the truck Sebastian and Monique followed. As Logan drove Monique stared at the sights like a

baby given candy. Sebastian dozed off to sleep between Logan

and Monique. Sebastian did not trust Logan. Logan saw Sebastian

sleeping and kept gazing over at Monique. Monique felt eyes on her

so she turned her head to catch Logan glancing at her legs. Monique put

her book bag over her leg and continued to stare at the sights. Logan had just

pulled into a rest stop in Texas the truck stopped. Logan said “Time to freshen up.”

Sebastian and Monique goes to the bathroom. Logan goes

into the bathroom after Sebastian. Logan asks “Is Monique really

your fiancée?”Sebastian replies “Yeah! Why?”Logan says “Because I

don’t see no rings on either of your fingers.”Sebastian replied “I’m

going to give her a ring once we are in California.”Logan smiled and said “Okay sure.”Logan walks out the bathroom and sees Monique standing by

the truck. Logan walks up to Monique and starts rubbing Monique’s thigh.

Monique moves over but Logan pulls her to him and licks her on the

side of her face. Sebastian walks out and sees Logan on Monique.

He sees Monique pulling away, he runs over and pushes Logan.

Sebastian says “Hey man! What’s your problem?”Logan says

“I’ve been more than generous to you brats. I could report

you both as run-a-ways right now, and you won’t get to

your precious California.”Monique is standing behind Sebastian teary

eyed. Sebastian says “We aren’t run-a-ways. You can’t treat Monique

that way. She is not that kind of girl.”Logan says “Whatever! Forget you both.

I paid for your meals and you can’t give me what I want. Monique shouts

“No I don’t want you touching me.”Logan gets in his truck and leaves.

Sebastian says “Don’t worry we’ll make it there.”Two days

pass Monique and Sebastian have been walking. Sebastian seems

upset. Monique asks “What’s wrong?”Sebastian replies it’s your

fault we are walking in this heat. If you would have just been with the guy
we’d be in California by now”. Monique eyes widened she could

not believe what she was hearing. Monique got so angry she

said to Sebastian “I don’t have to give myself to anyone as payment.

Then Monique stormed off. Sebastian ran behind Monique grabbed

her and said “I’m so, so sorry. It’s just the heat talking. “I would never

want you to do such a thing. Please forgive me. Monique turned

to Sebastian and slapped him than kissed him. Sebastian lighted up. They

decided to settle in Texas. Sebastian and Monique got married and

A year later had their first child a baby girl. They still live happy today.