Columnists :: Youth Voices
The letter
Thursday Feb 28, 2008
The letter
By Keveisha Robinson-Clark,/i>
Dear Mommy,
Hey! How are you? It’s me Charisma and I’m writing to tell you that I’m fine. The shelter that I’m in is treating me well and it feels good to be around other people who are just like me. I’m also writing to tell you that I’m sorry. I’m sorry for running away making you worried. I’m sorry for leaving you to explain to Jewels where her sister went. Remember when you warned me that Korey wasn’t good enough for me? And all I could say was yea Ma whatever, he loves me, he’s gonna change for me. And that’s when I decided to run away. I felt if you couldn’t accept Korey then you couldn’t accept me. At that point we were already having sex but we were using a condom. One day a few months later he convinced me to have unprotected sex. Mommy I knew it was wrong, but Korey said that if I really loved him I would. In the back of my mind I remembered everything you said but again I chose to be like, whatever Ma he loves me, he won’t hurt me. So we had unprotected sex. One month later I was late and that’s when I found out I was pregnant. Ma you know what Korey said? Korey told me kill that bastard, it ain’t mine anyway. But I refused, and that’s when Korey left. Now I’m 16 years old, a baby having a baby. Ma I had to leave school. I could no longer be there with the morning sickness and the swollen feet. My principal also said that I would be a distraction to the students who were trying to learn. I have no money and no job, but I’m not asking for forgiveness, I’m just asking you to educate Jewels. Let her know that she doesn’t have to have sex to be loved and tell her if she does have sex to make him wrap it up. No questions asked and no excuses made. Ma I’m gonna come home soon but first I need to get myself together, for myself and my unborn daughter. In three months you’re gonna be a grandma. I love you ma and I love Jewels and I will love my daughter Jada Nevaeh Williams.
Love,
Charisma
Keveisha Robinson-Clark is a South End teen working with local youth advocacy nonprofit, the Center for Teen Empowerment.
Poem
By Taliya Woolfork
Today sixteen and already having babies
I must be crazy with the things I’m sayin’
These days in the hood make less of human beings
I’m seeing... girls that used to smoke
Now I’m seeing girls at 15 sniffin’ coke
I hope... my poem makes an impact in lives
Try to picture a world that been in my head
When little girls listen to what their mother said
Learn better from the dead
The past before you
No point livin’ in hell when your parents adore you
Die for you
And so many things
Your life is more precious than a million dollar ring
Taliya Woolfork is local youth working with Teen Empowerment.
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