It's the shiny object that catches the eye, but all that glitters is not gold.

Laura Lee and Terrence were best buds in high school. They had grown up together as kids in a gritty tough inner-city neighborhood on the Southside of Chicago. Laura Lee was raised in a loving two-parent Christian home. She was destined to escape her environment and attend Howard University to pursue a medical career. Her future was filled with hope and direction. Terrence, whose drug-addicted parents were incarcerated, was raised by his widowed grandmother. He was destined to live a life in the 'hood. His future was filled with uncertainty.

Terrence brought about excitement and adventure to Laura Lee's sheltered life. He was her protector in a difficult environment. He was the yin to her yang. She brought about a sense of normalcy to his chaotic life. She was the string to his unstable kite.

Who knew the dynamics of their friendship would drastically change the trajectory of their young lives. Who knew those qualities that endeared them to one another would morph into something alien.

There was no turning back. There were no fix-its or do-overs. This was foreign territory. It's all about choices: it's all about survival now.

Paperback – January 20, 2022