Relief rushed over Kylie as she stared into her brother’s beautiful gray eyes. Kylie sighed and grabbed her book off of the floor as J-J hugged her close before picking her up and heading to the door.
“Get her out of here J-J. I’ll handle this bitch!” Nurse Constance yelled as she brutally beat Alicia in the hallway.
Kylie buried her head into her brother’s chest as he carried her out of the burning house and to the street pass all of the onlookers. Neighbors gasped when they saw Kylie’s frail, battered body, and bald head as J-J carried her to nurse Constance’s car.
“Kylie, I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you. I’m so sorry I left you. I love you little sister, and I’ll never leave you again,” J-J said as tears flowed from his eyes and he held his sister in his arms in the backseat.
Kylie cried and held on tight to J-J as she told him that it wasn’t his fault and she loved him too as they both looked up to see nurse Constance running out of the fully inflamed house. As soon as her foot hit the last step of the porch, the entire house exploded in flames, causing people to run, yell, and scream. Nurse Constance ran to the car and hugged Kylie as she cried and they all watched the hell house that Kylie was held captive in burn to the ground.
Kylie passed out just as the police, fire, and ambulance arrived on the scene and woke up sometime later in the hospital with J-J and Nurse Constance by her side. She could hear J-J singing the words to their mother’s song, Love Hard, as she fluttered her eyes open and looked into their loving faces. Kylie felt a weight lifted off of her chest as she remembered that almost everyone who had caused her pain was gone. She thought about Alissa, now alone with no mother or grandmother and she felt completely satisfied knowing that she had ruined her life just as she tried to ruin hers.
Tears of joy ran from Kylie’s eyes as she stared at her brother and he rubbed her head as he finished his song.
“Everything is going to be alright now, Kylie. I promise you. I’m here now and I’ll never leave you again. Nurse Constance has agreed to be your guardian and I’m going to live with y’all. We’re going to move back to Atlanta in our old house so we can all be together,” J-J said through his tears as he kissed her forehead.
Kylie smiled at her brother and gazed into his handsome face before turning to look at Nurse Constance.
“It’s true, Kylie. I would love to be your caregiver if you’ll have me,” Nurse Constance said as tear streamed down her face.
Kylie was so overwhelmed with happiness and relief that she couldn’t even get her words out. All that she could do was cry and smile at the two most important people in her world at that moment. They had saved her and she would always be grateful.
J-J and Nurse Constance stayed by Kylie’s side the three weeks she had to spend in the hospital. Kylie was released from the hospital on September 18th, her sixteenth birthday, and she walked out of there on her own. After that, life was happy again. Kylie stayed in Memphis with Nurse Constance as she waited to be transferred to a hospital in Atlanta and Kylie finished her studies from home to graduate early. J-J went back to Atlanta to finish teaching the fall semester, but he called his sister every day.
Kylie’s graduation that winter was beautiful. She walked across the stage a year early as class valedictorian with a 5.0 GPA and a perfect 36 on her ACT along with acceptance to any college she wanted to attend in the country. However, her first and only choice was right there at Atlanta, A&M where her brother taught music.
At graduation, Kylie looked out over the sea of faces, including Nurse Constance, her brother J-J, Papa Jacob, and her uncle Quant. She smiled and held her head up high as she stepped up to the podium to give the graduation speech. Kylie spoke about her challenges and triumphs as she wished her classmates well in their futures. She ended the graduation ceremony by singing the song that had always helped her through good and bad times.
Kylie cried tears of joy as she song the words to Love Hard and looked out over the room. Just as she ended her song, she looked at the back of the room and saw her parents standing there smiling with pride all over their faces. Kylie felt their warmth and love as she finished her song and everyone burst into applause. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as everyone congratulated Kylie as she left the stage.
Kylie left Memphis that day with her family heading back to Atlanta and the happiness she once knew. She felt nothing, but pride and elation as she looked out of the window and said goodbye to the place that had caused her the most pain. Kylie left Memphis no longer a broken girl, but rather a survivor, destined for greatness. She was determined to end the broken girl’s journey her mother started long ago. Kylie laid her head on her brother’s shoulder as she stared out at the clouds and he hummed the words to their favorite song.
“We made it mama and daddy. We made it and we’re going to make you proud,” Kylie said as she closed her eyes and let the melody of the song rock her to sleep.
Chapter 13
Kylie could feel the warmth of the sun envelop her as she sat in the window of her dorm room looking down at all of the students scurrying off to class. She smiled to herself as she thought about all of the things she had overcome and all of the things she had accomplished. Three years had passed since she escaped the prison that held her captive and she couldn’t have been any happier.
Now nineteen years old, Kylie was a sophomore in college with a perfect GPA, working hard towards becoming a child psychologist so that she could help children who had been through the same things she had. Although Kylie still loved to sing and write songs, she no longer wanted to sing for a living. She wanted to teach other kids to release their emotions and overcome adversities, just like nurse Constance taught her. Kylie’s life was good. She had Constance and J-J still by her side, loving her and pushing her to be great. J-J had started his own record company and was doing well and Constance had just gotten married and was expecting her first child. Life for Kylie was finally good again.
Kylie turned the locket with her parent’s picture in it that she wore around her neck, over and over in her hands as she thought about their good times. She missed them so much, but she knew that they were smiling down on her from heaven. Suddenly, thoughts of Kevin and the love she had for him filled her mind. Although a lot of time had passed since she had last seen him, Kylie had never lost her love for him or the desire to see him again.
Over the years Kylie had dated a couple of boys, but none of them could compare to Kevin. He still held a very special place in her heart and she wasn’t ready to let hope of reuniting with him go. She wondered where he was and whether he still loved her as much as she still loved him.
Emotions overcame Kylie as she got up and prepared to go take a shower and get ready for dinner. She glanced back at the beautiful drawing of herself over her bed that Kevin drew and his mother had sent to her before she left for Atlanta. Seeing herself in that picture, the way Kevin imagined her made Kylie smile to herself. A single tear fell from her eye as she walked down the hall towards the shower still wrapped up in her thoughts about Kevin. Just as she was about to walk into the bathroom, she heard her friend Samantha screaming her name from the end of the hall.
“Kylie, you have a phone call!” Samantha yelled smiling as Kylie turned and walked towards her.
Samantha was Kylie’s new best friend and roommate. They spent every waking moment together and had shared so many intimate details of their pasts with one another it felt as if they were sisters. Kylie had told her all about her abuse and the one true love who saved her, but she lost to jail.
Kylie looked at Samantha side-eyed, suspicious of why she was smiling so much.
“Who is it hooch and why you smiling so damn much?” Kylie asked as she bumped Samantha, flicked her hair, and folded her arms, pouting like a three-year-old.
Samantha burst into laughter at the look on Kylie’s face as she hugged her and flicked Kylie’s shoulder length hair to the side like she had done hers.
“Ohhh my Pooh-Pooh, d
on’t pout. You’ll be happy when you hear who it is,” Samantha said laughing as she pushed Kylie into the day room to the phone.
Kylie’s heart beat a mile a minute as she slowly walked over to the phone, looking back at Samantha who winked her eye smiling, and then disappeared around the corner. Kylie’s hands trembled as she picked up the phone. She didn’t know why this phone call was making her so nervous, but she soon found out.
When Kylie said hello and heard the voice on the other end say hello back, she dropped the phone receiver, and her bath products, holding her mouth in disbelief. The deep, silky, charismatic voice on the other end of the phone belonged to Kevin. Kylie quickly fought through her shock and picked back up the phone, pinching herself to make sure it was real.
“Kevin, is that you? “ Kylie asked as she gasped for breath and rocked back and forth on her heels.
She felt as if she would pass out from the anxiety of waiting for him to stop laughing and talk, so much so she had to sit down.
“Yeah lil’ mama it’s me,” Kevin said joking as he and Kylie broke out into nervous laughter.
Kylie could see his smile and caramel skin as she smiled and tears fell from her eyes.
“No, but for real this is me Kylie. You knew I was going to find you. I ran into your brother yesterday at a development meeting. We work with the same artist,” Kevin said as Kylie smiled and her tears continued to fall.
Kevin sounded so mature and refined Kylie felt overwhelmed knowing that they had both overcome their adversities.
“I’m so happy to hear from you Kevin. You don’t know how long I’ve waited for this call. I’m so happy fate brought you back to me, but I have one question. How did you know J-J was my brother?” Kylie asked.
“I saw that beautiful tattoo of your face on his arm. I’d know you anywhere, Kylie. You are my first and only love,” Kevin said with so much love and sincerity Kylie felt her heart melt.
Kylie and Kevin talked for several hours as they relived the past, the things that they missed in each other lives, and what they hoped for in the future. Kylie found out that after doing two years in prison, Kevin got out, began working on music, and quickly became a successful producer in the music industry. He lived right there in Atlanta, had no kids, and was not in a relationship either. Kevin was still madly in love with Kylie just as much as she was with him. He told her how he had vowed to never love again until he found her and saw if they had a chance.
“So Kylie, do I have a chance? I love you,” Kevin said to Kylie as they wrapped up their conversation.
Those were the words Kylie had longed to hear for years. She cradled the phone in her arms and cried before responding.
“Of course you do Kevin. Only you have a chance with me…only you hold my heart, Kevin. I love you too,” Kylie cried as she and Kevin said goodbye and she fell on the floor crying.
Samantha ran around the corner from her eavesdropping spot as soon as she heard Kylie say goodbye and jumped on top of her tickling her.
“What you crying for hooch? You should be happy, you got your true love back,” Samantha said as she continued to tickle Kylie and her tears of joy turned into laughter.
“I am happy that’s why I’m crying. I just can’t believe this is happening,” Kylie said still crying happy tears as she and Samantha got up off of the floor.
Kylie couldn’t believe how faith had brought her and Kevin back together. That gave her the feeling that all she had been though was not in vain. Even though she had been through some terrible times, without them she would have never met Kevin, and found love. Samantha smiled at Kylie as she wiped away her tears and put her arm around her shoulder.
“Well believe it hooch. Now it’s time for your real happiness. You deserve this Kylie and I’m so happy I’m around to see this day come true. Now let’s go figure out what you will be wearing for this date with your future husband,” Samantha said popping her lips as she led Kylie back to their dorm room.
The next two days preparing for her date, Kylie felt as if she was in heaven. Kevin called her several times and they planned an intimate dinner at an upscale, downtown Atlanta restaurant followed by a concert. Kylie fell in love with Kevin all over again as he had flowers and bears delivered to her psychology class the morning of their date. Kylie smiled when she read the card attached to the flowers Kevin sent.
I love you Kylie...FOREVER! was written in big red letters with hearts for i’s.
Kylie floated on air the rest of the day, breezing through her tests with thoughts of Kevin on her mind. When the time came to get dressed, Kylie couldn’t stop shaking as she sat on her bed and Samantha did her make-up.
“Stop shaking boo, it’s gonna be alright. He loves you and you love him, so there is nothing to worry about. Now slip that flawless gown on Cinderella and go get your Princess Charming,” Samantha said as she stepped back and Kylie got up and slipped on the long black, silk, gown with the high split she was wearing.
Samantha zipped Kylie up as she gazed at herself in the full length mirror on their dresser. Kylie looked so beautiful and mature in her beautiful gown. She was a carbon copy of her mother. A single tear fell from Kylie’s eye as she saw her mother’s reflection in the mirror. She could hear her telling her to be happy and live well. Kylie gazed at her eyes in the mirror and saw that light that she buried deep long ago had returned. She was the true Kylie again.
Kylie wiped her tears away and hugged her friend before turning to walk down stairs to meet the man of her dreams, again.
“Have a wonderful time Kylie. Don’t come back pregnant,” Samantha said laughing as Kylie rolled her eyes at her, smiling and got on the elevator.
“I won't make any promises,” Kylie yelled laughing as the elevator doors closed.
Kylie’s heart beat so fast it felt as if it would pop out of her chest as she rode the elevator down to the first floor. When she stepped out into the lobby, she felt her legs shake as she stared at the back of Kevin. He had on a nice black tailored suit and his hair was neatly cut. He turned around and looked into Kylie’s eyes just as she got within arm’s reach. They both paused for a second, drinking each other in. Kylie traced Kevin’s body from head-to-toe with her eyes, admiring the grown and sooo sexy him. His smooth caramel skin and piercing brown eyes made Kylie’s heart skip a beat and butterflies flutter in her stomach.
When Kevin pulled Kylie into his strong arms, she felt like that fifteen year old girl again. Tears ran from her eyes as she buried her head in Kevin’s chest and he held her tight.
“I love you Kevin,” Kylie said as she looked up into Kevin’s tear-filled eyes.
“I love only YOU, Kylie,” Kevin said as he kissed her so deep and with so much passion she felt weightless.
Kevin wiped the tears away from Kylie’s eyes and gave her the dozen of white roses he brought her before grabbing her hand and leading her to the door. Just before they stepped outside, Kylie stopped and turned to face Kevin.
“So love now that we are back together again, where do we do from here?” Kylie asked as Kevin kissed her softly on the lips before responding.
“Wherever we go, we’ll be together until the end of our lives,” Kevin said as he and Kylie walked to the car, starting their happy life together.
Dinner and the Tyrese concert Kevin took Kylie to was the perfect start to their lives together. Kylie couldn’t keep her eyes off of Kevin as he sung the words to Sweet Lady right along with Tyrese while looking into her eyes. Kylie stayed wrapped in a haze of love and happiness as she and Kevin left the concert and he took her to his condo. Kylie looked around at all of the nice furniture as Kevin led her into his living room.
Kylie was totally shocked when she looked over the fireplace and saw the huge oil painting of herself Kevin had painted. She looked at him in disbelief as he smiled, showing her his gorgeous, pearly white teeth.
“Kevin, how did you do this?” Kylie asked as Kevin kissed her hand.
His kiss sent a familiar surge
of passion and heat through Kylie’s body, igniting her lust and deep desire to make love to the man of her dreams.
“I painted this from memory. I could never forget your beautiful face. I memorized every single inch and drew this portrait in case I never saw you again. I’m glad I’m able to see you and be with you again. Don’t ever leave me, Kylie,” Kevin said breathlessly as he kissed her deeply and with more passion that she had ever felt before.
In that moment Kylie became lost in her love. She let herself go and submitted to love as Kevin scooped her up and carried her into his bedroom. Kevin stood Kylie in front of the bed as he passionately kissed her while unzipping her gown. Kylie felt as if her whole body was on fire. She closed her eyes as Kevin kissed her all over her neck and face and let her gown fall to the floor.
Kylie felt herself get wet as Kevin stood there staring at her in her black, lace panties and bra, drinking her in like he always did.
A Broken Girl's Journey 4: Kylie's Song Page 14
