Destiny and Promise

Once there were two brown haired girls, Destiny and Promise.

Destiny
Destiny was a beautiful little baby with brown eyes. One day, when she was in her crib, Aunt Sarah said, I wonder what she will grow up to be.
When she was five, Aunt Samantha said to her, "Now Destiny, what do you want to be when you grow up?" "I want to be the president!" said little Destiny. Aunt Sam chuckled. "Destiny, you can't be the president. You're a girl!" "Oh, ok. Well what can I be then?" "One day, you're going to meet a nice man, and you'll get married, and have a family!" "Ohh. OK Auntie Sam," said Destiny.
When Destiny was 7 her father raped her. Dad told her she would get in big trouble if she ever told Mom, so she kept quiet. Every night for a year, she had a nightmare. But she knew she couldn't tell Mom about the nightmares, because then she would have to tell her what had happened. Then, after one year, to the very day, the nightmares stopped. But then something happened. Destiny stopped dreaming. From that day forward, she never dreamed another dream again.
When Destiny was 14, she and Kenneth were going steady. "I love you Destiny," said Kenneth. He kissed her. I've always wanted to be loved, she thought. He started to touch her. "I love you too, Kenneth," she said. She felt empty inside.
They didn't use a condom. When she missed her period, she went to the school counselor.
"What am I going to do?" she wept bitterly. "There are options, Destiny," said Ms. Sanders, handing her a pamphlet.
When Destiny was 16, she met Larry. Larry was 21. He was fearless and strong. He was raw and powerful, and exciting. "Let's go to the lake," said Larry. "I'll bring the beer."
The whole gang skipped school and went. They had a great time. At sundown, Larry and Destiny went for a walk. Larry stopped and looked her in the eyes. "You are some girl, Destiny." Destiny beamed. He leaned in and kissed her. She could taste the beer on his lips, and she liked it. "I like being with you, Larry." She said. "I like being with you too," he said. As they turned to go back, he looked her in the eyes and said "Girl, I'll never let you down," Her heart leaped and she bit her lip. A tear slid down her face as they walked, hand in hand.
When she was 17, everyone was fighting. "You're so ungrateful!" said Mom. "After everything we've done for you, you're a selfish little brat." "Oh yea?" said Destiny. "Well you're a bitch!" Her mother slapped her. "How dare you talk to your mother like that?" said Dad. "Shut up Dad! You pervert! How dare you rape me! I hate you!" "What are you talking about?" said Mom in horror. "She's a liar!" roared Dad. "Get out of my house Destiny!" screamed Mom. "I never want to see you again!"
Destiny sobbed a sigh of relief into the payphone. "Sure, baby, you can come stay with me," said Larry. He came and picked her up.
Destiny didn't know how much Larry drank until she moved in. Then her life was filled with bruises. She owned several pairs of sunglasses and took a job as a waitress.
One night, Larry wanted rent. "Get off me!" she screamed. "Be quiet!" said Larry, muffling her screams with his hand. He took what he wanted.
When he was through, Destiny moved out. The Chicago night air was cold in the Spring. She found a bench on the lakeside. The cool lake breeze blew memories across her face for hours as she sat in silence, completely still. Then she looked up at the veiled stars and said, "Are you out there, God?" Suddenly Destiny felt a weighty peace settle over her, like she had never felt before. In her mind's eye, she saw a father holding his daughter up in the sunshine. "I wish I had a dad like that," she said to the wind.

Our hearts are yearning for you...

Promise
Promise was a beautiful little baby with brown eyes. One day, when she was in her crib, Aunt Jess said, I wonder what she will grow up to be.
When she was five, Auntie Ellie said to her, "Now Promise, what do you want to be when you grow up?" "I want to be an astronaut!" said little Promise. "You'll have to study hard, Promise. Being an astronaut is a very hard job." "Really?" "Yes," said Auntie Ellie. "But you can do anything you put your mind to!" "OK Auntie Ellie," said Promise.
When Promise was 7 her father gave her a bicycle. Dad taught her how to ride it outside on the street. "Don't look at the pedals, Promise," he kept telling her. "It throws off your balance. You have to keep your head up looking straight ahead." When she fell and scraped her arm, Mom knew what to do. She even blew on the Hydrogen Peroxide so it wouldn't sting as bad. "I believe in you, Promise," she said. "You can ride that bike."
When Promise was 14, Mark passed her a note. It said "Dear Promise. I think you have nice eyes. I hope we can talk some time. Your friend, Mark." Promise looked at him and blushed. At the school dance, they snuck off into a classroom and started writing funny things on the board. Then Mark came and looked her in the eyes. "I love you, Promise." "Don't be silly!" said Promise. "We're in middle school!" He tried to kiss her. "Mark, stop!" She ran out of the room.
When she was 16, she was watching the news and she saw the people left homeless by the hurricane. "We have to do something about this!" said Promise. "What should we do, sweetheart?" said Dad cautiously. When Promise made the announcement to her school assembly, everyone was inspired. They raised four thousand dollars and filled 17 boxes with clothes and food. Promise's picture was in the paper and the caption read, "Promise Brings Hope to Hurricane Victims."
When she was 17, everyone was fighting. "You can't go to Berkeley! I'm not going to let those hippies corrupt my daughter! No way!" said Dad. "You're just a small minded conservative!" Promise shot back. "Don't talk to your father that way! Who do you think is going to pay for all this?" said Mom. "I don't care! I don't care about any of it!" Promise ran upstairs to her room and slammed the door.
Dad knocked on the door. "Can I come in?" No answer. Dad cracked the door. Promise was sitting on her bed, looking out the window. "Promise, honey, we're your parents. We love you. We're on your side." "I know, Dad..." Promise rolled her eyes, still looking away. "We're just worried about you." Dad came and sat next to her on the bed. "Promise, the truth is, it's up to you. And I trust you to make the right decision." She turned and looked up at him, taken aback. "Really?" she said, eyebrows raised. Dad looked her in the eyes. "It's your life. You're an adult now. I just want to help you succeed." A tear slid down Promise's cheek, and she bit her lip. "Thanks Dad." she said.
Promise shivered on the bench outside the dorms in her jacket, looking at the sunset. Off in the distance, she could hear some of the University of Chicago freshman getting initiated into some kind of lunacy. She looked up into the night and said, "God, I wonder if you're out there." She waited for a moment, wondering what would happen. Suddenly an ominous reverence settled over Promise. Time seemed to slow down, and she was slowly gripped by a powerful Possibility from which she could not escape. She became uneasy, but she felt unable to move; her heart began to race, and as eternity loomed over her, Promise feared that she was losing control. Then, suddenly, it lifted.

You alone shall we fear...