“Malaaka aren’t you scared of losing him. Don’t you love him and want him to love you?”
      “Kim, I can’t lose something I don’t have. If the only reason he wants to be my boyfriend is for that, then no I’m not scared. What I’m scared of is displeasing God, disrespecting myself and my mom. And I’m scared to death of not having a future or catching a disease. You should be scared too.” The friends stood at the door of Kim’s study hall staring at each other. Malaaka could see something in Kim’s eyes she had never seen before. Her friend looked ashamed.
     “What’s wrong, Kimmie? Is everything okay at home?” Before she could answer the final bell rang, they both scurried off to their classes. The look on Kim’s faced nagged Malaaka all day. She decided she was going to get to the bottom of it at the end of the school day.