… Angel jus finished beatin’ da shit out of me. Fa nuttin’. Some boy stopped me and asked me fa directions … and he thought the boy wuz hollerin’ at me … But he wuzn’t … He’s so damn jealous … He jus like his father … A cheater and a woman beater … Dis time he went too far … I been bleedin’ fa da past hour … think I lost da baby … I’m too scared ta go ta da hospital … Wish I woulda listened ta mom … she told me he wuz no good …

The average teenage happenings were noticeably absent. There was no girly gossip or talk of school, friends and family. There was no joy, enthusiasm in her words, only sadness and grief. With each entry came more misery and suffering. Reading the diary was like watching a movie of Goldie’s life. She could see and feel her pain. Goldie had successfully documented her sorrow. Overcome by emotion, Tender wiped away a tear. She thought she had a rough life; it was nothing compared to Goldie’s.

… livin’ on da street iz tougher than I thought … but it still beats livin’ wit Angel … ain’t gotta worry ’bout him kickin’ my azz no more … i ran into dis girl from hiz buildin’ she told me he got locked up … wit all these guns … da police ran up in one a his dope houses and caught him … dat’s good fa him … you reap what you sow …

… last nite met dis girl name Kat in center city … it’s crazy how we met … she offered me a place ta stay … couldn’t believe dat? … i went too! … i ain’t crazy … her house iz da bomb … she gave me my own room … haven’t had dat since … since … a long time ago … she’s real nice … she promised ta take me down ta her job … and get me one … dag, she neva said where she works … dat’s funny? … maybe i didn’t catch it? … o’ well … can’t wait till tomorrow …

… some job she got … can’t believe she’s a stripper … shoulda neva told her my bizness … ’bout my mother … she used it against me … she forced me ta strip … once again i’m fucked … i got nowhere ta go … Remind me neva ta open my big mouf again … can’t trust no one … sorry, only you …

i’ma slave … Kat ain’t nuttin’ but a pimp … got me fuckin’ all kinda nigga’s … she call it datin’ … it ain’t like no date i eva hearda … she be takin’ all my money … she got me ona allowance … boy, wuz i eva wrong ’bout her … dis bitch iz mean and wicked … all she do iz threaten me … i’m scareda her …