Don't Come Down from the Chinaberry Tree

Spirit strengthening mantras, that were passed down from generation to generation, roamed aimlessly through Rose's head.

Forced isolation from family and friends clouded out all signs of tomorrow...

"And this too shall pass...after difficult comes ease...been through the mill but didn't get grinned up..."

Or was it too late for Rose?

At age sixteen, Rose purposely gets pregnant thinking that will be her "grown lady" ticket out the door. She leaves home to live happily ever after with her eighteen year old boyfriend, Malik. He isolates her from her family and friends and perpetuates a vicious cycle of physical and mental abuse.