Teen Ink

Summary: My mother was gone. Instead of pain, I felt only numbness. Like when you've been out in the snow for too long, and your fingers are stiff. Only instead of my fingers, it was my heart.

Death is a horrible thing, and for Nekia- a young woman and adoptive mother- the death of her best friend forces her to remember her childhood. A childhood full of pain, fear, hurt and loss, but also love, friendship, and hope that God can bring beautiful thing up from the ashes.