So today I finished some basic editing in my book!!! 😊😊😊😊 My sister is working on editing too (Thanks Chloe!!!😉😉), and I have to add some additional things (page numbers, dedications, thank you's, and ect!) And then it will be done for now!! I can't wait for my friends to read it!!

So to celebrate I'm going to give you the first chapter of my book! I hope you enjoy and comment below👇👇👇👇 on what you think!!!

Chapter 1

8 years later

 Amy Riley jogged up the stone stairs to her apartment building in New York City. She paused to wipe sweat from her forehead before opening the door and heading to her apartment. She unlocked the door and walked in, quickly slamming the door behind her.

 Amy headed straight for the kitchen to grab some orange juice before showering off.  

 She sighed deeply as she pulled pepper spray from her sleeveless jacket pocket. She rubbed her neck as she opened the refrigerator door and grabbed the jug of orange juice. Grabbing a glass, she hopped into a chair at her island. She motionlessly filled her glass with the orange liquid. She lifted the class to her lips, savoring the cool, refreshing drink.

 Her phone buzzed from her pocket and she retrieved it to open her text. It was from mom.

 "Hey, r u gonna come hang out td, since its ur day off?"

  Amy sighed deeply; going home was always extra stressful for Amy. But she had learned that family was one of the most important things a person had and a person should cherish it as much as they could.

 "Sure mom :D"

 Amy slide her phone down the island with a huff. Life. Where did she go wrong? How did she end up working five days a week for some photography studio? Sure, it was enough money to live a nice, comfortable life. She had great apartment. Nice clothes. But they couldn't feel the hole she felt in her heart.

 Amy groaned: why couldn't she just do what her heart beat for? Why couldn't she just take a leap of faith and do what God wanted her to do? She was sure God wanted her to be a police officer. But there was the fear...The fear of not being able to meet the challenges of being an officer. And the Academy? How could she ever get past? It was all too hard and she was too weak.

 Amy thought of her sister. If Amber was still here maybe Amy would've found the courage to follow her dreams. Amber was always encouraging to follow the dream of being a police officer. Amy would never admit to her sister that that's what she wanted; sometimes she wouldn't admit it to herself, but Amber knew. She always could see right through Amy's disguises. Amy smiled to herself; Amber had truly been the best sister a girl could have. They had such great memories together. So many heartfelt moments. But then Amber was gone. Killed. It wasn't fair; it wasn't fair. An innocent girl like Amber had to suffer in a human trafficking brothel. It just wasn't fair. Amber didn't deserve that. No one did.

 It had been eight years but the pain wasn't lighter: only deeper. It hurt more now than it did eight years ago. Amy remembered holding on to the slightest hope. Praying and trusting God that her sister would be okay. But then the day came when they said she was dead. Amy's heart broke in half and it had never been mended. It was like part of   Amy's whole world was ripped from her and there was nothing she could do about it.  She longed to hug her sister one last time and tell her she loved her. She couldn't remember if she had said goodbye to Amber the last time she had seen her. Surely? She just couldn't remember.

 Amy shook her head, then drank the last of her orange juice and stood to put the jug back in the frig. She'd just head to her room to shower. Maybe she could just wash away all the confusing thoughts that whirled non-stop through her mind. But that would take a lot of water and she didn't have time for that.

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 Kim Harper walked neatly up to the door of Amy's apartment; she reached under the doormat and retrieved the key to the door: without knocking she gracefully walked into Amy's apartment, her black high heels echoing on the floor.

 She glanced around the room to see if there was any sign of Amy. To the right was Amy's kitchen; on the refrigerator were photos of Amber and a police poster. Kim shifted her glance to the left; in the living room there were framed pictures or police stuff and pictures of Amber. Kim counted. Yeah, there were definitely more pictures since the last time she had been there.

 Kim scratched the back of her head, carefully as to not mess it up: for the life of her she couldn't understand what Amy's fascination was with police officer. It was dangerous. People got killed. Kim shook her head. She couldn't go there.

 Kim suddenly became aware of the sound of the shower running in the bathroom in Amy's bedroom. Kim shrugged and headed over to the refrigerator: she still had an hour until work, no use not getting a bite to eat first. She had been in a hurry to shower and do her hair and nails this morning that she had totally forgotten about breakfast. Pilfering through the refrigerator revealed a jug of milk; she selected that for cereal. Kim turned to lie the milk on island when out of the corner of her eyes she spotted a box of donuts on the counter. She smiled; she'd much rather have donuts. She went to put the milk back in the refrigerator when she paused: donuts weren't that healthy. She turned back around and put the milk on the island. She skimmed over the boxes of cereal and selected a fiber cereal, must stay healthy. After grabbing a bowl and spoon, she sat down. She poured her cereal and milk in the bowl, she prayed silently, than starting munching on the delicious breakfast.

 A few minutes later Kim was finished, the milk and cereal was put away, and her bowl and spoon washed. 

 Kim could hear the shower shut off, so she headed into the living room to wait for Amy.

 Kim took a walk around the living room, further looking at the new pictures. Her eyes landed on a few posters on the wall. Some of them were from a TV show: she knew that by a social media not that she watched police shows. It was too painful. But Amy seemed to like them and the funny thing was Amy didn't like too much violence, but she wasn't as sensitive as Kim.

 Approaching footsteps caused Kim to turn from the wall of posters and look toward Amy's bedroom. Amy came in the room, shorts and a T-Shirt on, barefoot, and a white towel in hand drying the ends of her hair. She stopped suddenly when she saw Kim, looking startled. Amy signed deeply; she swallowed hard and held her hand on her lower stomach, as in relief. Amy slightly stopped her foot. "Kim, how many times do I have to tell you not to come in without knocking or something?!"

 Kim held up her hands in defense. "I'm sorry, it's just I don't think about those things with friends."

 Amy huffed and walked passed her to the couch and she sat down with her left leg tucked under her right. She continued drying the ends of her hair. "New York City can be a dangerous place! I just don't like being frightened and taking by surprise like that!"

 Kim took a couple of steps forward than paused: on the coffee table was photo of Amber. Kim had to think of how Amy must feel.  Of course she was even more protective than normal people might be. Kim should try and be more understanding. She had never gone through losing a sister, although she had a terrible loss, and in such a horrible way. She knew somewhat of what Amy was feeling.  "I'm sorry, Amy, really I am."

 Amy lowered the towel to her lap and stared at it as if the towel held the answer to a deep question Amy longed to know the answer to.

Amy looked up. She looked calmer than she had a couple seconds ago. "Sorry for fusing at you, just...please knock, yell, just something next time..." She looked at her longingly.

 Kim smiled. "I promise!"

 Amy half smiled than picked up her towel and proceeded in drying the ends of her hair.

 Kim folded her arms gently. "What are you doing today?"

 "Hanging out with my mom."

 Kim nodded. "That'll be fun, I'm sure. I'm sure you’re glad you have a day off. I don't get them very much, so I'd be more than glad."

 Amy chuckled. "I’m always more than happy to be away from there for a day!"

 Kim raised her eyebrow. "You work for a great studio! I thought you enjoyed photography?"

 Amy shrugged. "It is something I'm good at, I guess..."

 Kim frowned. "What's going on, Amy? You worked hard for your degree and now you’re sounding like you hate what you're doing."

 Amy jerked her head up, her eyes flaring rage; she threw the towel aside to the floor. "It's not just "now"."

 Kim jerked her head back in surprise. Amy looked furious. Discontent. Mad at herself.

 "Amy..." Kim eyes locked on Amy's. "What's going on?" 

 Amy sighed; she eased a little and stood. Looking exhausted with herself. "Nothing, I'm just tired."

 Kim slowly nodded. "Sure?"

 "Yeah."

 Kim smiled. Amy had been working a lot lately. "Well, gotta run." She turned and headed towards the door.  Amy followed.

 Kim paused before opening the door and turned back to Amy. "Are you sure you’re okay?"

 Amy smiled but Kim knew it must have been forced. She had never seen Amy so discontent before. Or maybe she just never noticed. "Yeah."

 Kim once again nodded and turned back around. "Bye!" She yelled over her shoulder as she opened the door and walked out of Amy's apartment.

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 Amy turned the volume of her radio in her car up: she always enjoyed Group1Crew better when they were blasting.

 As Amy drove she looked around the busy life of New York. She slightly smiled to herself. Ah, New York. The most wonderful place in the whole world to her. True, she hadn't been many other places, but she couldn't imagine any place taking the place of New York in her heart. Amy could just spend all day and night walking around the fine streets of New York, shopping in the fine shops, eating in the fine places New York had, and she could spend hours just sitting and gazing at all the bright lights of New York! Amber had always claimed that the city lights of New York were always felt like angles guiding her safely home. Amy had to wonder if she felt that guidance when she was adducted. Amy hoped she did. She hoped Amber's life was as peaceful as it could be before her nightmare had begun.

 Amy shook her head. Why? Amber didn't deserve to die in a human trafficking brothel….

 Amy swallowed hard. She constantly thought of her beloved sister, but she tried to never focus on the unknown part of Amber's death.

  Amy decided to pull her thoughts away from her love for New York and Amber's death and decided she would get some fresh pastries from La Delice Pastry Shop for her mom and dad.

 She came upon the shop and pulled her car in front, she grabbed her keys from ignition, and grabbing her wallet, she headed into the shop. A few minutes later she was walking out with fresh pastries.

 "HEY!" Someone shouted.

 Amy stumbled. What...? She jerked her head in the direction the shout came from. Her heart pounded at what her eyes met. A police was running up the street, in pursuit of a hooded man. Amy felt glued to the officer. Here he was. An officer. Probably fulfilling the calling his heart beat for. Wearing blue. Protecting the streets.

 From around the corner another officer, a woman, came running. Partners. Watching each other's backs.

 The first officer drew closer to the hooded man. The hooded man ran right in front of Amy right as the officer leaped forward and slammed him to the ground.

 Amy was glued to the scene.

 "Give me your hands!" The officer shouted, grabbing the criminal hands behind his back then cuffing the man.

 The officer grabbed a hold of the criminal’s upper arm and stood. His partner neared them; she was speaking into her shoulder mic. Amy fixed her eyes on the woman officer: she looked so head strong, so relaxed, so fulfilled.

 Now why can't I be like that?

 The women officer turned to face Amy. "Ma'am, are you alright?”

 Amy swallowed hard, trying to find her voice. "Uh...um... ye-ah." Amy then realized she had dropped the box of pastries.

 The women officer nodded. "Okay, sure you don't need some help?"

 Amy shook her head. "Sure. I just-um-just...never mind."

 Amy squatted down to pick up the pastry box. Right as she touched the box, the first officer knelt in front of her; he picked up the box for her and gently took her arm and steadied her as she stood.

 "You sure you’re okay, ma'am? You look a little shook up.” He asked with compassion in his eyes.

 Amy forced a smile. Yes. She was shaken up. But not just from fright. She was shaken up with her own guilt. Her own guilt of being a coward. But, yes, fright was a part of it. The whole scene scared her and that was the whole problem.

 "I'll be fine." She reached out for the box of pastries. He handed them to her and turned around to re-join his partner. Together they headed down the street. Amy headed to her car, feeling lower than she ever had before.

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 Amy took a deep breath before opening the door to her parents’ house. God, I'm really gonna need your help. Please. You know this is hard for me.

  Amy swallowed and opened the door. Today had been a very trying day; in every aspect she had been reminded of the calling she was running from and now she would have to put up with her mom acting like Amber never existed. When it was confirmed that Amber was dead, mom had taken all her pictures and everything that Amber had and put it away. Never even taking it out and looking at it. Amy couldn't even imagine not acting like Amber existed. Amy cherished the things of Amber's that she had. She proudly displayed pictures of her. For pete’s sake, Amber was her sister and Amber wouldn't want her burying her in her heart.

 "Hey, mom, I'm here."

 Amy slipped her tinny-shoes off by the door right as her mom called from the living room. "In here, hun."

 Amy slipped into the kitchen and laid the box of pastries on the table.  She then headed into the living room. "Mom, I brought-" Amy stopped in her tracts at what was before her eyes.

 Mom was sitting on the floor with boxes in front of her filled with Amber's things.  Her mom held a scrapbook in her hands that Amber had made of her High School years. Mom's face was bright with a smile, yet tears fell softly down her cheeks.

 Amy swallowed the lump in her throat and tired to get a hold of the emotions that were welling up in her.

 Amy looked about the room to find framed pictures on the walls again. The living room looked like it used to before Amber died. It looked like a home. Filled with memories of its family.

 Amy shakily knelt in the floor in front of her mom and gently laid her hand on her mom's shoulder. "Mom?" She couldn't find her voice but her eyes asked it all.

 Her mom smiled through shiny tears. "It was time for me to stop acting like Amber never existed and start remembering her by having her things...and things of her around me." Mom finished with a deep breath and more tears.

 Amy nodded with a smile. "Sure thing, Mom."

God Bless and continue serving Jesus!!!!

😉😊😊😊😊😉😉😉😊😊😉😉😉😊😊