Cycles: I'm Still Here!

By Marion P. Myers

CYCLES is a riveting account of one woman’s triumph over many of life’s obstacles. This novel will encourage you, provoke you and challenge you!
It explores Prececa Morriston’s weaknesses and strengths and how she becomes a true woman of substance through it all. Through all the snares, rejection, pain, confusion and being misunderstood, Prececa is still here .... And she has a testimony!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664120679

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Copyright © 2020 by Marion P. Myers.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Book cover design by Ja’Maya Currie

Rev. date: 07/29/2020

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CONTENTS

Part 1 The Beginning

Part 2 The Homecoming

Part 3 The Return

Cycles, cycles … life is composed of one cycle after another; some bad, some good. Read this captivating story about one woman’s triumphant wins, making her truly more than a conqueror and an overcomer!

From the valleys to the mountaintops, she made it over; she’s still here because she kept her testimony!

I invest myself to God, who is the president of my life, the nucleus of my being from start to finish; basking in helplessness, I depend totally on him and Jesus, my Savior, for saving someone like me.

I thank God for my parents, for teaching me everything I needed to know and believing in me.

Part 1

THE BEGINNING

I ’m so excited! exclaimed Prececa as she rushed in the house.

It was only two days before she graduated from a girls high in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Prececa Morriston was the youngest of five children. This was a close-knit family, headed by sincere God-fearing parents. Her father was an educated man, graduate of Temple University with a degree in theology. He was a devoted minister of a small country church in Berlin, New Jersey. Her mother was a beautiful light-complected woman with long naturally wavy hair. She was a dedicated early childhood education teacher and a graduate of Penn State University. Mrs. Morriston was the real backbone of the family; she kept the faith when all else failed.

Prececa was her father’s heart. Her sister came next. And then there was Plato, Jr., the eldest of the three boys. He was married twice with four kids, two boys and two girls. Gregory and Reginald were twins and as different as night and day. Gregory was divorced and had a son and a daughter. His divorce turned his life upside down; for it destroyed him, and he was never the same. He resorted to drugs and alcohol as his way of life. Reginald was single and a gifted musician. He was also a caseworker.

Everyone was preparing for the big gala event. Prececa had applied to many colleges. Her dream was to attend NYU because she loved the Big Apple. However, she did not get accepted there but was accepted to Lincoln University. This was where Plato, Jr. went. After all the gaiety was over, Prececa anxiously prepared for LU. Her best friends, Charlene and Leila, marveled at the idea of visiting her for college functions. Charlene was Prececa’s right hand. They spent hours on the phone and did all the things best girlfriends do. Leila was the youngest of the three. She often tagged along to get bits and pieces of heavy girl talk and frequently volunteered her two cents about everything they discussed.

Charlene was more advanced when it came to boys. She was on birth control before Prececa even knew how to kiss a boy! Prececa was slow, and Charlene was so very fast. Prececa would look in amazement while she gloated and went on and on about her misbehavin’ with them boys.

The weeks went by very quickly, and it was that time! Yes, the time had come for Prececa to go off to college. She was packed, set, ready to go! Her parents took her that Sunday morning. She was so paranoid! Worried about adjusting, would she fit in? As they slowly approached the picturesquely beautiful campus, Ellen reached for her hand and said, You’ll make it, you’ll do just fine, and remember, we’re all depending on you.

Prececa registered and checked into her dormitory, Cresson Hall. She met her roommate, Nan Devé from Haiti. They got along well at the beginning, until Nan started bringing her boyfriend to spend the night, almost every night. Prececa was very uncomfortable with this and asked, Why does he have to be here so often?

Nan slyly answered, It’s my room too, and I’ll bring whoever I choose.

Nan was very unreasonable, so Prececa had to cope with it for the rest of the semester. In the meantime, she had become close with Jean Hanson, a girl down the hall. They had planned to be roommates next year. As time progressed, Prececa got involved with many activities. She pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and was inducted during her sophomore year. She was chaplain of her chapter and a Spanish tutor and member of the Spanish Club.

This year proved to be an exciting year. Prececa and Jean went to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, to do an independent study for one month. Jean had become involved with a guy named Harvé Tye and planned to be secretly married to him later on. Prececa became hopelessly attracted to a divorced man named Melison Rays. He was a heartthrob—a hunk! Prececa was still a virgin and very inexperienced with men.

Prececa and Jean had been boarding with a fellow college mate and her family. Her name was Kalina Scott. However, Kalina and Jean had disagreements about Harvé so much until Jean decided to move out. Prececa was caught in the middle. She couldn’t stand to see Jean move on her own in a strange place and hardly anyone they knew, so she moved with her.

Prececa told her, We came here together, we better stick together.

Jean had already talked to Harvé about letting them stay there, and he welcomed them with open arms. He had a roommate named Jocco. Prececa was hesitant about all this. Where would she sleep? She wasn’t sleeping with his roommate, that’s for sure. And she didn’t. Jocco gave her his room, and he slept on the couch. Later in the week, Jean and Harvé were married, and Prececa and Jocco were their witnesses. That Saturday, they all went out to celebrate. Prececa ran into Melison and invited him over for dinner the next night. Prececa had the house all to herself. She slaved in the kitchen all afternoon, cooking a gourmet meal fit for a king—her king, Melison!

Melison came at 7:00 p.m. sharp. He was casually dressed in jeans, Polo shirt, and sandals. Prececa had on a flowered sundress and matching flats. She was so nervous and self-conscious, wanting everything to be perfect! They had a quiet dinner and later went out on the porch.

Melison talked a lot of his daughter and his plans for a career in music. Then he started to make innuendos about getting closer to her. He told her how much he wanted her and liked her. He whispered all those sweet nothings all girls love to hear. But as he approached her and tried to kiss her, she told him, I’ll kiss you, but I can’t go any further. They kissed and held each other as the cool, soft breeze brushed against them.

Melison realized what she told him after they embraced and said, You led me on for nothing, for nothing! He let go of her, and looking utterly intimidating, he stormed back into the room.

He said, Where can I sleep until my ride comes in the morning?

Prececa trembling said, I’m sorry, Melison, but I just can’t do that now. I’m not ready now. I did not mean to lead you on. I’m sorry. You can sleep on the couch. I’ll make it real comfortable for you.

She looked at him so remorsefully with tears in her eyes. She cared for him but wanted to be married before she submitted herself.

The next day, at 8:00 a.m., a car horn blew. It was for Melison. He got up and knocked on her door.

She was already awake and opened the door and said softly, Hi, is it time for you to go?

Melison responded, Yes.

Will you call me? Prececa asked.

Yeah, I will.

Their month’s stay was almost at an end. Prececa talked to Melison the day before she left. They promised to write each other.

Back on campus, it was business as usual. Jean had to lie to her parents about the beautiful diamond ring she was wearing when they came to visit her over the weekend. Prececa and Jean had discussed how they would keep her secret. Jean told her mother they were engaged and planned to be married after graduation.

She was outraged and told Jean, It’s only a whim, you will forget about him before long.

But Jean disagreed and said, No, I love him and will marry him.

But somehow, Jean’s secret was disclosed. She went home the next weekend. While going to the library, Mrs. Hanson was busy cleaning at home and rummaging through some papers on the breakfast room table when some of them fell to the floor. As she picked up the papers, one stood out above all the rest. It was a marriage license. It was Jean and Harvé’s license. Mrs. Hanson was totally appalled. She ran into the den where Reverend Hanson was and screamed, Henry, Jean was married in St. Thomas! She lied to us. They’re not engaged. They’re man and wife. How could she do this to us?

Just then, Jean walked in from the corridor. She had the uncanny feeling and noticed that something was wrong, terribly wrong. She looked at her parents in much dismay and quivered, saying, Hi. What happened?

Her mother cried out, How could you do this to me and your father? You lied to us! You got married and thought you could keep it from us!

Jean sobbed, I love him, and he loves me.

Her father arrogantly replied, "You will get an annulment, young lady. You married a scum. He’s nothing. He’s not in college. What kind of work does he do? He’s not good enough for you. Besides, if you want to finish school, you’ll do as we say. If you don’t, we refuse to pay another penny for your college education, and you will be a big nobody—nothing but trash!"

Jean vehemently answered, You can’t make me do it. I won’t. Jean stormed out of the den and ran to her room.

The next week, Jean called Harvé and told him what happened. They agreed to get their marriage annulled and get engaged and marry after graduation. In the meantime, Jean was very rebellious about all that she encountered, the confrontation with her parents, to the extent that she started some very adverse and deleterious behavior. She started neglecting her studies, staying out late, drinking, and smoking pot. Prececa tried to help her, but she refused and ignored any kind of help. She was mad with the world! Jean went to a party one night and got sloppy drunk. A guy named Lawrence took her back to his room where she spent the night. Prececa had gone home for the weekend, and when she returned, there was a note on the door saying that Jean was at Lawrence’s room. She called over to his room and asked how Jean was doing and what happened.

He said, Jean got so drunk and rowdy at the party, so I took her to my room. What’s wrong with her? Why is she abusing herself like this?

She’s been extremely depressed lately with a lot of problems. Thank you for taking care of her.

Prececa and Jean went for a long walk. The air was so rejuvenating, so fresh and crisp. Jean said, I am so unhappy with my life. I hate people telling me what to do, always wanting to control my life. I’m sick of it.

During the next few weeks, Jean became very ill and started having high fevers and chills. She went to the school nurse for an examination. The nurse told her some startling news—Jean was pregnant! Jean couldn’t believe it. She didn’t want to believe it. She ran back to the room and told Prececa.

Prececa said, What are you going to do? How many months are you?

I’m only in the early part. The nurse said she would have to let the doctor see me next week to tell me how far along I am. Oh, Prececa, I don’t know what to do.

Have you told the father yet? He should know because it’s his fault too, asserted Prececa.

Jean told her the whole fortuitous story and revealed that the father was Lawrence. I was drunk, and I needed somebody, so it just happened. I’m going to break my engagement because I cheated on Harvé, and we are no longer being faithful. At least I’m not. I’m just all mixed up.

Are you going to keep the baby?

Jean looked petrified and answered, Are you kidding? Hell no. I can’t take care of myself. How can I take care of a baby? I made arrangements to get rid of it.

Is that what you really want to do? Are you sure? asked Prececa.

Yes, I’m sure, and I can’t wait to get it over and done with. I’m not telling Lawrence either because it was just a one-night stand. He doesn’t need to know.

"But, Jean, what about the money for it?