ABOUT THE BOOK~
Lorna Simon, has plans to diminish her resume of safe journalism and be known for reporting trendsetting stories. Certain that she can persevere her impressive family lineage within her carefree lifestyle as a social butterfly, this notion is put under fire after a night of partying thrusts Lorna into being a newsmaker instead of a news writer. Lorna alleges she has become the victim of a sexual assault crime committed against her by a woman, Trista, who is a promising event planner and an associate of Lorna’s mother.
Paralyzed with the humiliation of having to publically defend her sexuality as a heterosexual, Lorna must decide to believe in her bouts of memory loss and forego the incident or rekindle her passion for journalism to protect her livelihood and uphold the integrity of her family.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
Nikki Skies is an accomplished poet, author, and playwright living in Atlanta, GA. Skies is the author of the short story book, “Mississippi Window Cracks” and the collection of poetry and prose in the book, “Pocket Honey, Wind & Hips”. Skies is also known for her fiery performances as a featured poet in venues across the country and an inspiring speaker and workshop facilitator on varied topics.
As a speaker, Skies engages on the topics of: "Missing-the Impact of Feminine Images in Arts", "The Rise and Demise of Women in Hip Hop & Poetry" and "The Feminine Influence in the Black Arts Movement." Skies' poem, "One Day White Woman", on beauty standards between black and white women, has been used as curriculum in Oakland's Women Prison System and San Diego State University for multicultural/diversity lyceum programming. “The Town Dance”, is the dramatic debut novel from Skies. More information can be found on Skies on her blog at www.nikkiskies.wordpress.com.
A firm believer in the power of education, the Grambling State University alumna, who also studied for her Masters at Howard University, uses her art as a teaching tool to encourage an interest in literacy.
LINKS~
AUTHOR BLOG
BUY AT AMAZON
BUY AT BARNES AND NOBLE
EXCERPT~
Lorna had neatly placed the toilet seat cover and sat down just as someone else walked in to the restroom. When the person walked past her stall she could identify through the cracks of the door that it was Trista. Trista stepped into the stall next to Lorna. Usually people look under the stalls as they walk past to check occupancy but not Trista. She seemed to be distracted.
The sensation to urinate left Lorna’s body as she sat paralyzed on the toilet not wanting to breathe or move. She moved her legs in closer together so Trista could not look under the stall wall and notice her shoes. Lorna’s thoughts were torn between the decision to run out of the restroom or wait until after Trista left.
Trista wasted no time relieving her bladder. She had been containing her composure and bodily functions for the majority of the day. She leaned her head against the stall wall and punched it with the sides of her fist. Trista let out a slow deep shriek of a cry, something else she had wanted to do all day.
Despite this restroom being across from the courtroom her proceedings were taking place, people opted to walk down the hall and use another restroom. For that reason, Trista used this one because it was quiet and she hallowed the same stall everyday with morning prayers and affirmations. She had started morning affirmations at the request of members from one of her support groups.
Even though Trista had looked forward to telling her side of the story for months now, today was a rough day in court. Having been advised against giving interviews or talking to the media, Trista felt as if she had been victimized every day by local and national news. She had mixed support from the LGBT community and some members of her family back in Kentucky had even been harassed.
The defense team prepped Trista as much as possible but everyone knew with Lorna being the hometown princess, Trista’s gratification would be short lived due to the cross examination from the prosecution. And Uncle Adam came after her with a vicious resolve!
Trista needed to call someone because the blood in her left arm was beginning to burn. She needed to release it so it wouldn’t hurt.
Trista let out another long, mellow toned shriek and dialed a number on her cellphone.
“Hi, it’s me… I feel like I can’t breathe. I called my mom again this morning and she hasn’t called me back yet. What if she never calls me?”
Trista began to bang her fists on the walls again.
Balls of perspiration beaded Lorna’s face as her heartbeat pounded in her throat. She wasn’t sure how much time had lapsed but she knew if she didn’t come out soon, Uncle Adam would call her cellphone to look for her.
“Today was hard. It was so hard, so hard… my arms feel heavy. My left arm looks swollen…”
Even though the phone was not on the speaker function, Lorna could hear the person on the other end yell.
“No, seriously it does! And it burns, it hurts so bad!”
Lorna learned about Trista being a “cutter” when Uncle Adam shared the police report with the court. Until all this happened, Lorna thought she was a good judge of character. But in hindsight of becoming friends with someone who intentionally hurt themselves and her father advising her of the potential dangers one night stands can bear after this part of her social life was embarrassingly shared in the courtroom, Lorna knew she needed to re-evaluate some aspects of her lifestyle. Lorna decided that during Trista’s next cry outburst, she would make a quiet yet swift run for the restroom door.
“I spoke up for myself and then, he humiliated me… I wouldn’t wish this on anyone,” Trista banged her head against the wall and then pounded her fist again.
Lorna quickly stood and pulled her skirt up. As she cautiously slide the lock, the automatic flusher activated on the toilet.
Trista stopped her pounding and crying.
“Hello?”
Lorna rushed out of the stall and to the door of the restroom. When she heard the automatic flusher go off from Trista’s stall she turned around.
Trista opened her stall door and locked eyes with Lorna. One of Trista’s shirt sleeves was rolled up and showed fresh cut lines on her forearm.
Trista still had her cellphone to her ear. Her mascara was smeared around her eyes and her chest and neck were drenched in sweat. Lorna reached to push the door open but it didn’t budge.
The person on the other end of the phone could be heard yelling.
“I’m still here… it’s her. She’s in the restroom with me,” Trista softly said into the phone. “The bitch who’s trying to kill me. Who turned my world upside down! But me, I wouldn’t hurt a fly, I wouldn’t hurt a fly, I wouldn’t hurt a fly…”
The restroom temperature felt like it had risen at least 20 degrees. Lorna could feel anxiety forming knots in her chest and her throat began to close up. She closed her eyes to stop the room from spinning but even with her eyes closed, she saw Trista’s face.
“She won’t even look at me she’s such a coward,” Trista continued.
Lorna opened her eyes to see Trista walk towards her. Lorna pushed at the door again but to no avail, it would not open!
She could smell Trista’s perfume. It was a rose note of some sort. The temperature rise in the room was Trista’s body heat getting closer to Lorna. She felt Trista’s hand cup the side of her face and wipe her tears. Lorna wanted to scream but she didn’t have enough air in her chest to make a sound past a pant. When Lorna opened her eyes, she was staring directly into Trista’s vacant stare. She could now see the smeared eye makeup was a combination of eyeliner and mascara. The arm Trista used to caress Lorna’s face had four small three inch slices on them.
Lorna didn’t want the blood to drip on her shirt so she pushed her body against the door to try and open it again.
“What happened to you?,” Trista asked
Lorna felt Trista press her body against hers. Trista’s breath was against her mouth. Lorna squirmed against the door to get away but Trista’s body followed her like a magnet.
“Trying to run again I see. Look what you made of me… look,” Trista yelled.
Someone pushed the door from the other side causing Lorna’s body to jump. She immediately pushed back with her body to stay away from Trista. The person pushed against the door harder this time and pushed Lorna off the door completely. She finally let out a scream and opened her eyes.
Trista was still standing by the door of the stall with her cellphone to her ear.
“Is everything alright in there?,” someone asked from the other side of the door.
Lorna quickly wiped at her face and pulled the door open.
“Yes, everything is fine. I’m sorry I was pushing at the door to open it instead of pulling. Pardon me,” Lorna explained.
Not making eye contact with Trista, Lorna ran out of the restroom.
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