Prologue

Arielle Burnes waited patiently for her name to be called. Rows and rows of people could be seen sitting expectantly, waiting to see their friends or family members walk across the stage. She had waited for this moment for years. Hours of prayer, studying, and saying no to many distractions led her up to this point.

Arielle's best friend, Julia, could be heard squealing in excitement as her boyfriend, Ben, crossed the stage.

"Go, Ben!" Julia yelled, cupping her hand around her mouth and waving madly. Her eyes shone with glee as she watched him bounce down the stageside steps with his diploma in hand.

Ben threw his hands up and blew a kiss to her as he grabbed his diploma and came back around to the two ladies, claiming his seat once more. His tight blond curls peeked out from under his blue graduation cap almost perfectly matching his golden eyes. Arielle smiled at him politely, excited that he too completed his studies with very few hiccups.

Ben Stewart had quickly become friends with Arielle and Julia in their freshman year, and it blossomed into something more for Julia. Arielle could easily remember the day as if it had taken place that morning.

Arielle and Julia had been walking along the campus, trying to figure out where the college's math hall was located. Julia jammed her finger against the college map, squinting at it in confusion.

"It says it should be right here," her voice was laced with discouragement.

"Hm," Arielle thought. "Here let me-"

"Wait! I think it's this way!" Julia yelled with newfound determination, but her swift turning became a swift falling when she ran head-on into a taller student. The young man, stumbled backward dropping his books in the process. Arielle cringed at the sight and rushed to Julia's aid.

"Ow, ow, ow," Julia groaned.

"You'll be alright," Alright spoke soothingly as she helped her friend back up. The young man reached his arm out apologetically, but the two women were already back on their feet.

"I'm sorry, miss. I didn't see you there," He spoke with concern.

"It's Julia and it's okay," she replied with a quick smile.

"I'm Ben," he spoke aloud, putting out his hand to be shaken. Julia stared at it for a moment and then at him.

"Julia," she replied, placing her hand in his momentarily to give a business-like greeting. Arielle swiftly bent down as the two conversed to grab the map that was sloppy and crinkled now on the plush green lawn.

"Jules, the math hall is on the other side of campus," Arielle called out to her. The small conversation between Julia and Ben came to a halt as she swiveled around with shock.

"You're joking,"

"If only," Arielle laughed. "Let's go."

Julia glanced back at Ben and waved. "It was nice to meet you, Ben! We plan to form a small study group and meet on the third floor of the library! You're free to join!" She called back to him.

"When?" He called back as they were already a few feet away.

"Every Wednesday at 4 o'clock! Be there or be square," she laughed.

Arielle shook her head. She didn't think anything of it. At least not then, but as Ben began to meet them faithfully every Wednesday, she realized the budding relationship between the two. She had pulled Julia aside to talk about it, but Julia insisted that she prayed and that they agreed to no kissing until the altar.

Arielle wasn't focused on relationships while in school, and even less now. Yet Ben and Julia seemed as if they would run to the altar.

As Ben high-fived a few of his nearby buddies from the soccer team, Arielle's name was called. Eyes soon fell on her, and she felt her heart race with expectation. It was finally time.

"Whoo!" Julia screamed. Arielle flinched, reeling back at the unexpected noise.

"Julia, I barely moved from my seat," Arielle reminded her through a pained laugh as she peeled herself away from the plastic graduation chair and walked up to the stage. The claps and cheers were louder than the ones Ben received when he walked across the stage, but it wasn't because Arielle held more popularity than Ben. Oh no. Ben was the captain of his soccer team and made friends rather easily.

Instead, it was because she took too much on her plate. She was in too many extracurricular activities, so much so, that they outweighed the number of classes that she took. So everyone practically knew who she was, whether it was in passing or by working with her.

The counselors and the dean smiled at her. All of them recognized her rather easily. She grabbed the rolled-up diploma and made her way to the bottom of the stage. She threw her hands up and happily cheered along with the "whoos" she received.

She laughed and met up with her friends once more. They sat and "whoo hoo'ed" everyone who went across the stage so that no one felt left out. This went on for the next two hours. It was a large college.

Arielle waved goodbye to Julia and Ben after being dropped off at her home. In the car with them sat one of Ben's best friends and his sister.

"Bye, guys!" Arielle waved at the four of them.

"Bye, Ari! We love you!" Julia yelled as Ben drove off in his blue Jeep.

With a contented sigh and smile on her face, Arielle walked forward toward the small home she grew up in. It was a two bedroom, one bathroom home. All in all, it barely reached 700 square feet, She didn't come back here often as it was just outside of NYC, but because she graduated college, she was finally out of those dorms. She had applied to be an intern at one of the most successful companies in NYC.

AMI.

The AMI building had stood tall in the middle of NYC and always held a daunting aura around it. It greeted her whenever she decided to roam and explore a little of what NYC had for her. As time went on she realized just how badly she wanted to work there for herself. She had spent hours and hours just praying to get the perfect job to help her mom.

Please be here. Please be here. She thought.

The large mailbox held only two white envelopes. Quickly she grabbed them both. Scanning the first one had only left her with a frown on her face. It was a utility bill under her mother's name. She swapped envelopes and perked up immediately when she saw that the next envelope was sent out under her name.

Ripping open the thin envelope she pulled out the letter. A loud squeal escaped her mouth as she practically danced in front of her home.

"Arielle?" A soft woman's voice called out to her.

She looked up and saw the face of the woman who always cared for her. Her brown, tired eyes were identical to Arielle's, and her wavy hair hung just above her tailbone. It was a reminder of her Latin heritage. Arielle's hair was tighter than her mom's as it was split between her mom and Jamaican dad. A split between two cultures with the tastiest foods. Maybe she was a little biased.

"Mom! I got the job! I got the job!" Her mother began to smile with great joy for her daughter. She never wanted her daughter to face the life she did. The life of wondering where one would get their next meal or how to cover each bill, but God always made a way. Whether it was by the kindness of a stranger or a bill being paid on its own.

"Oh, come here honey. I am so proud of you. You worked so hard for this and you deserve it more than anyone I've ever known." Her mom congratulated her and it made it all so worth it. All of the years of studying, praying, and busting her butt in extracurricular plans and projects brought her to this moment. They both stood there and smiled and cried tears of joy while hugging each other tightly.

"We'll be out of here soon, Mom. I promise."

Arielle's mother worked two jobs to keep their home afloat and she paid for the parts of Arielle's education that hadn't been covered by scholarships and financial aid. Arielle's dad had passed away when she turned ten. The bills became mountains as her mom tried to keep up with them all and so Arielle told herself that she would do anything she could to make her mom's life easier. Although this was an average-paying internship, it was a start.

"Oh don't worry about me, mi hija. I'm okay." Her mom reassured her.

"Yes, you're okay, mama. I want you to be more than okay. I will make your life perfect." Arielle promised and so they hugged and cried tears of joy for their future.

Alexander Marquee stared at his childhood home that had become rubble overnight. The news crew caught wind and were already here to make their next story. A story of the tragedy that had become of his memories.

The quaint white house had blackened from the fire and the center had completely collapsed onto its foundation. Firefighters were still on the scene, but sadly they never made it in time to save the home he grew up in. With a lone tear and a tug at his suit, he walked through the crowd of people watching. His ability to conceal his emotions was failing him. Whoever did this wanted to see him break, but he would break them first.