Depression had taken hold of Goldie. She was crying out for help but her call fell on deaf ears. She had to get out, get away from this life. Any other time Tender could cheer her up, snap her out of her funk. If it hadn’t been for Tender’s positive presence, she would have fallen to pieces a long time ago. This time though, her burdens, worries and fears were bigger than that. No pep talk could bring her back.

“I swear ta God,” Goldie cried, “I hate dis shit! I wish I wasn’t born … I wish my mother were still alive … I wish I was dead ….”

She burst into tears. Tender rushed to hold her in her arms.

She felt her pain, but was powerless to stop it. Goldie’s feeling came from within her soul. She was mortally wounded.

“Goldie, don’t say dat no more. You hear me? You all I got … and I luv you. Don’t forget dat. I gotcha back, even if nobody else do. Remember that …. Be strong, girl. Do it fa me, …” Tender pleaded.

“… I wanna stop strippin’. Dis ain’t me! Dis ain’t fa me, …” Goldie stated.

“I know, Goldie. I know … I don’t wanna do it no mo’ either, Tender confessed. But …”

“But what?” Goldie asked. “Gimme one good reason.”

“Goldie, I need money. I’m tryin’ ta open a bizness someday soon. I can’t jus’ walk away. Not now … I’m almost there ….”

“Tender, do you know Kat would leave ya ass flat in a heartbeat? She’s not ya friend. She’s a great pretender. Fuck her, let’s leave. Leave her ass here by her miserable self … There’s no betta time than now …. If you don’t go now, then you neva will ….”

“Dat’s not true. I want out jus’ as bad as you. But we gotta think dis thing out. We can’t jus’ leave like dat.”

“You do hair real good, Tender. You could get a job in jus’ about any beauty parlor in the city. And you know it too. You jus’ don’t wanna try.”

“But I don’t have a license yet. I’ll get there though. Don’t worry ’bout dat. We’ll make it. Together. God’ll take care of us, Goldie. It’ll be hard fa sure.”