Gangsta to Glory

By Angel Cabrera

When she was four, Angel Cabrera was a quiet, shy child who loved to dance and make others laugh. But when her parents divorced two years later, Angels life suddenly changed direction. As she attempted to find her place in a newly blended family, Angel embarked on a challenging coming-of-age journey; she struggled with depression, self-destructive behavior, and neglect. By the time she was fifteen, Angel had run away from home, tried alcohol and drugs, and shoplifted. Her life was quickly spiraling out-of-control.

Disowned and left to fend for herself in a crazy world, Angel details how she walked a dark path with Jerome, a mysterious Jamaican teenager who quickly took advantage of her innocence. As Angel chronicles her new life living with Jerome, she shares how she chose to ignore her intuition that something was wrong and began depending on him for everything, including her financial security. Once Jeromes true identity was revealed, Angel was led down a dangerous path through crime, hopelessness, and corruption, soon discovering that she could count on nothing.

Gangsta to Glory is a true story of redemption as a young woman learns to rely on herself and her faith in God to survive in a tough world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jan 24, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491720448

Angel Cabrera

Angel Cabrera holds a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies and a college diploma in law and security. She is a certified aesthetician, a professional make up artist, a minister of the gospel, a cosmetic entrepreneur, and an inspirational speaker in prisons and on the radio. More recently, she launched her own cosmetic line. Angel was born in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.

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Copyright © 2014 Angel Cabrera.

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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4917-2042-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-2043-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-2044-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014900205

iUniverse rev. date: 01/15/2014

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1

Angel’s Personality and Spirituality

Chapter 2

Where it all Started

Chapter 3

Somebody Loves me

Chapter 4

The Runaway, Looking for Love

Chapter 5

The Life

Chapter 6

Progress

Student life

The Craziness Continued

Chapter 7

Shattered

Chapter 8

The Normal Scene

Womanhood

Chapter 9

The Change

Chapter 10

Leaving the Scene

Redemption on Purpose

Dedication

This book is dedicated to those who are in or have just left a custody facility. It was you who inspired me to share my story as a speaker and to write this book so that it may be circulated and reach more individuals. To those who have felt life dealt you unfair circumstances to begin with, those whom have not been supported or celebrated and those who have been abused and neglected. You men and women, young adults and youth, you are my motivation.

I pray that as you read this you may be healed emotionally and encouraged to live victoriously.

Acknowledgements

Several people were integral to this personal story becoming a publication to share with the world. I want to thank my two sisters who are as source of strength and support; my two nephews who are my world, my inspiration and my peace. I want to thank my cousin and best friends for encouraging me thorugh this process. I am grateful to the businessmen who have mentored me and encouraged me to establish Splendor by Angel c Inc., who have been more than generous, providing me with great opportunities and a wealth of knowledge. I would like to thank my editor, Lauren Judge who was an integral part of the process; I could not have completed the book without her. Thank you for capturing the essence of both Angel c, while helping me to relay my story. Your insight and expertise are greatly appreciated and it has been a pleasure to work with you.

Introduction

Fourteen years ago I sat on the floor of a gym at a youth custody facility and spoke to the young people at eye level. I saw broken hearted, hopeless, lost, and hardened souls. I spoke to them from my heart, telling them what I had been through and offered them some hope and encouraging words. It wasn’t planned for me to share that day—it just happened after they had finished playing basketball. I worked in the facility as a Direct Care worker. There wasn’t a sound in the room but my voice. I was choked up as I saw tears streaming down the faces of some of the youth. I have been speaking ever since that day.

I was invited back to this same facility to share as a guest speaker and after that I began speaking more as the word spread and invitations came my way. It was suggested by many people who heard me speak that I write my story. I was told that my story needed to be shared when I was not there at the facilities. I spoke about the drug dealing, the fear that consumed me daily, the violence, and how I battled with suicide, depression, anorexia, and the feeling of losing my mind. I told the story like it was. I never rehearsed or even thought of sharing before that night at the facility. I reflected on my spiritual beliefs, as they are an integral part of my story.

My hope is that readers will pursue change and improve their lives. It is never too late and it is not impossible. Hope combined with the right action will not disappoint. The contents of this story are based on my real life, with actual places, people and experiences. I have shared the story for the betterment of people and the greater good. I have restored relationships with my family. We have all changed, grown, and learned from our mistakes. Forgiveness has great power.

Chapter 1

Angel’s Personality and Spirituality

"C’mon baby, let’s do the twist," I sang in the kitchen, as I twisted my little butt backwards and fell right into the garbage can. The kitchen was so good for dancing because I could slide, twirl and twist much better than on the shaggy red, orange and black carpet in the living room. My ballet performances were done in the kitchen too, but not before I would bow down to the floor and say a prayer. Weird. Oh, and I hadn’t taken ballet lessons or anything. I was captivated by dancing at a very young age. I was about 4 years old at the time. Before I did a dance I had to say a prayer. How dramatic!

I was always dancing around at home. My mom would be cleaning and cooking and I would go to my room or upstairs to either play or wrap up gifts for my mom. My favourite was wrapping up things around the house and giving them to my mom. I especially loved wrapping up bars of soap. I loved the feeling of the surprise and the fact that I gave her something. I was a quiet and shy kid for the most part, but I did have my moments. For instance, when it came to my older sister. She would often torment me here and there, like any normal sibling. She would push the palm of her hand up against my forehead and I would try to swing at her as she giggled, because no matter what I did my swings wouldn’t get her.

We were three years apart. The two of us would get on the city bus and go to school together. After school we were left alone until my dad arrived about an hour or so later. We had a bar in our basement with many mirrors and the TV was also down there. My sister and I were home alone watching TV in the basement when she turned to me and said, Your bum has a hole in it you know! She kept saying it and made me feel like something was wrong with me. I went over to the mirrored wall area and tried to see if there was a big hole in my bum! I had on navy blue leotards and was twisting and turning to see my backside. My dress was up and twisted when my dad appeared. He wasn’t happy with what I was doing and I got into trouble. Revenge would come to my older sister. Not only did I scribble all over her school notebook but I punched her two front teeth out! It was actually two incidences. Two punches and two teeth, on two separate occasions.

I was very particular when it came