I Didn't Ask to Be Here

Book excerpt: Paris is a teenage girl growing up in South Central Los Angeles during an era when money, sex, prostitution, drugs, and alcoholism are the only ways to deal with reality. Upset with her parents for abandoning her, she moves in with her grandmother Joyce, going from rags to riches. Bennie is an eighteen-year-old transgender battling his sexuality and anger issues due to a fatherless childhood. With no parental guidance, Bennie’s heart has turned cold, but he still holds a special place in his heart for his best friend, Paris. Even though they come from separate homes and live different lifestyles, one’s pain is not better or worse than the others. Paris and Bennie are both products of their environment, suffering from broken homes and childhood trauma. While trying to be accepted by their high school peers, drama always follows them. Together, they search for a fabulous lifestyle and try to avoid making the same mistakes as their parents