I'M DOING THIS FOR MYSELF MOST IMPORTANTLY, BUT MY WHY? IS BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT IT IS TO WORK THREE JOBS AND STILL JUST BE WITH MY HEAD ABOVE WATER, I'VE SEEN POVERTY LEAD TO DRUGS AND VIOLENCE AS A WAY OF SURVIVAL. I HELD MY (WEEK OLD) NIECE IN MY ARMS AS LONG AS I COULD WAIT FOR MY SISTER TO RETURN BEFORE A STRANGER AND AN OFFICER TOOK HER FROM ME. I FELT PAIN, ANGER, HELPLESSNESS, AND RAGE ALL AT THE SAME TIME. I PRAY FOR THEM MORE THAN I PRAY FOR MYSELF. I'VE WORN A SMILE WHEN INSIDE MY HEART IS TORN IN TWO. I'VE BEEN FAITHFUL AND I'VE CHEATED, I'VE SEEN LOSING AND I'VE BEAT IT. I WATCHED A MAN DIE FROM GUNSHOTS, I HELD MY BEST FRIEND SO TIGHT WHEN SHE COULD ONLY CRY AND BARELY TALK. TOGETHER WE ATTENDED ONE FUNERAL AFTER ANOTHER. TOGETHER WE ASKED WHY? NOW, SEPERATE WE CRY FOR THE SAME REASONS AND REMEMBER THESE THINGS TOGETHER AGAIN. I'M DOING THIS FOR MIA, TORSHA, BRUCE, NATHANIEL, AVERY, JOSH, AND ALL THOSE WHO DIED TOO YOUNG TO GET TO DO THIS... ***GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN AND REMEMBERED IN OUR HEARTS FOREVER. *** THANKS FOR READING...