The Coffee Shop, A New Beginning (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798223021148)

It is late September, and my sister Tellicia told me one day why I was being whipped

She said she had heard the foster mother tell her husband I was a demonic child, and I needed the devil beat out of me.

I did not know what a sin was, and I told the pastor this, and that day when we arrived back at their home, I had to go get the belt and hand it to the foster father this time

He whipped me so hard that I received minor cuts inside the welts.

It is late October, and fifteen years after I got my first job, I have saved enough I can abscond the man who said he would never let me go

When he finds out that I have taken all his money to be able to buy the things I will need and the two hundred and forty-two thousand I stole from him and saved is going to get me killed if I do not go now.

I want you to know I will not let any harm come to you," Maya said as a small smile came over her face, Maya hoped this would put me at more ease.

I had to wait for two of those to get the right to have a car so that I could come and go as I please," Maya said as I giggled at the fact that my new friend knew about the island's laws.

"How do you know so much about the island life here?" Maya asked, hoping it would break the silence I could feel was coming.

Please do not get up, and thank you for the coffee and ride this far

This is where I will take my leave of you, so please let me live my life in peace," I said as I got to my feet and headed for the door when I remembered that Maya had placed my things in the trunk of her car.

Maya remembered the day she had left her husband and how she needed a friend, how unsafe she felt, how he had found her, and how he could get into her home and hurt her

I do not know you yet, but in time we will be like sisters," Maya said as she returned to the small table and placed her hand on mine.