ast few weeks of school on autopilot, avoiding Stephanie and Daniel at ever

ad lit a fire inside me, one that burned hotter with e

e quiet, invisib

nyone take advan

ow I was going to chang

s swirled in my mind. School was over, and the next chapter of my life was wide open. I

se th

finding a way out o

that I wasn't going anywhere unless

" he said one evening at dinner, his tone stern. "The

her," I said, keep

say was that

rs and already living on her own. She worked as an usher at one of the largest branch

n I told her about my situation. "Your par

a," I said, relief

my parents down and

efully. "She's very involved in the church, and she said I

"Why can't you stay he

ng my words carefully. "I want to learn

, he nodded. "If Patricia is willing to take you in, I'll allow it. But

" I said, my

ne: co

wo was

eople did, not someone like me. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Modeling wasn't ju

e. The first few attempts were disastrous-I froze in front of the

braver, a little more co

, I felt like a different person. Standing in front of the camera, wearing clot

ed the lights. "You've got a natural grace

in my life, I bel

ring the day, I worked small jobs and built my portfolio. In the evenings, I volunteere

ssing day, I felt myself changing-growing stronge

back at me. Gone were the baggy clothes and nervous glances. In their place was s

eel small and insignificant. I thought about Father's sermons, about

en I s

t yet, but I was j