the beginning | character list
Before You.
Before love, before loyalty, before the kind of pain that could crack even the toughest heart—there was survival.
Amarie never had a soft place to land. Foster homes, group homes, and the streets raised her before she could even dream of saving herself. She learned early—trust was currency, love was a weakness, and the only person you could depend on was yourself.
At just sixteen, she was already deep in the game, hustling to stay afloat, learning the rules that could make or break a woman in the streets. With Melanie as her only real family, she did what she had to do, stacking money, dodging the wrong kind of attention, and never letting her guard down.
Then, there was Dre.
The first man who made her think love could be safe. The one who gave her hope and then destroyed her in ways she never saw coming. He taught her that love could be a trap, that some men only wanted to control, not cherish.
And just when she thought she had nothing left to give—Chris walked in.
Freckles, cocky smile, effortless confidence. He was different. He wasn’t her usual type, but something about him made her want to break all her rules.
But in a world where love can be dangerous and survival comes first, Amarie has to decide: Is she willing to take that risk again? Or is love just another game she’s destined to lose?
Disclaimer
This story is intended for a mature audience (18+) only. It contains explicit content including violence, strong language, sexual situations, and other adult themes that may not be suitable for all readers. Reader discretion is advised.
All face claims used are strictly for visual inspiration and do not reflect the real-life individuals, their personalities, behaviors, or beliefs.
While some locations mentioned may exist in real life, they are used purely for fictional purposes and do not represent the actual places, people, or businesses. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved.
This work is the intellectual property of AmariAzure. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or use of any part of this story is strictly prohibited.
Enjoy 🖤
