Pieces

THE BEGINNINGThere was a cool crispness in the air that indicated winter was coming very soon. It was too soon for Keirra because Christmas would be here shortly. Keirra remembered when the Christmas season was a joyful and exciting time. She looked forward to unwrapping all those gifts and anticipated she would soon be seeing all the favorite toys she had dreamed about. Christmas for Kierra was always so wonderful. She seemed to exist in a different world back then. The kind of world little girls dream of: the white house with the red painted door sitting in the middle of an enormous yard with plush green grass and flowers, surrounded by a white picket fence, a little dog named "Spot" lounging in his doghouse, and the family gathered together as they did year after year for the annual "Soul Food Feast". Everyone always seemed so happy and hugs and kisses and smiles were given and welcomed. This was the dream world she lived in as a child. Things seemed to change quickly as she grew older. The dream world she had as a child began to fade. Time no longer seemed to stand still. Keirra was growing up.Keirra's parents divorced when she was young and she began to struggle with who she should be loyal to, her mother or her father. She did not want to take sides because she loved them both. Divorce is always difficult for children and in Keirra's case, it was extremely difficult. She seemed to have no sense of belonging or purpose and she began to look desperately for something or someone to give her life meaning.