A Boy To A King

By Darius “KING D SON“ Southerland

The battles I faced in the past were definitely a challenge. Some of them even crushed me. I honestly didn't think I would live to see my twenty-first birthday. Life had gotten so bad that the only thing made me happy was the thought of death. I was extremely depressed, but once I found my worth, I found my way. You will never know how strong you can be until being strong is your only choice.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9798886549621

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A Boy To A King

Darius aEURoeKING D SONaEURoe Southerland

Copyright © 2023 Darius KING D SON Southerland

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2023

ISBN 979-8-88654-985-0 (pbk)

ISBN 979-8-88654-962-1 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Based on a true story

Description

My Father Never Came Back

Fifteen with a Baby

Didn't Know It Would End So Soon

When God Came to Me

Brothers for Life

Battling Humbleness

I Had to Motivate Myself

Accepting Leadership

Writing through the Pain

Was It All Worth It?

Cut

Why Now

Voices

Grateful

About the Author

Based on a true story

Description

A young kid with a confused mind, not knowing if his father really loved him or not. His absence plays a major part in the child's life, forcing him to accept the frustration. The young man's environment didn't make it any better. He's now being raised only by his mother, which angers him even more because he wants to take care of her, but doesn't know how.

My Father Never Came Back

Chapter 1

Being raised in a single parent household was very difficult at times. My mother had to help everyone with their homework, and if we were sick, she had to become our nurse. Whatever she had to do, she was willing to do it, and that's something I would never forget.

I was the youngest of six children, so of course I was spoiled. I have three brothers and two sisters. We didn't have much growing up, but we were happy. My mother worked a lot of hours at her job, trying her best to support her kids. She had children by 3 different men. My two brothers, Gary, George, and my sister Tina shared the same father. My older brother Lewis and my older sister Diane shared the same father. I had my own father. My dad would come by every weekend, but I still never got to know who he truly was because it was never about me. He was only focused on my mom giving him a second chance.

Whatever he went through with her, he would take it out on me. For example, if my mom and dad broke up, he wouldn't come by to see me or call, but if they were on good terms, he would tell me I'm the best son in the world. The love I had for him started to turn into anger because I felt like he really didn't care. I was dealing with a lot of up-and-down emotions.

One day me and my school teacher got into a small disagreement over me being late to class. I really didn't want to hear that shit because I was already depressed about the issues I was having at home. When I walked in the classroom, she stated, There he goes—the guy that's always late. She told the class to not be like me if they wanted a better future. Once I heard that, I got pissed off and I cursed her out. I also threw books at her. I was hurt by the statements she made. I was wrong for reacting in that manner, but I was upset, I wasn't thinking.

The cops were called, and they came in and handcuffed me in front of the whole class. They didn't lock me up, but they did give me a court date to attend. The principal expelled me, and the judge sent me to an alternative school for a year and he also placed me on probation for thirty-six months. I felt like the punishment was a little harsh, but throwing books at a teacher wasn't the brightest idea. At the time, I was thirteen years old. Even though I was going through a lot at home, I'm not blaming my father for my actions because I still had my own choices, but I will say the things I felt from him leaving played a part.

When my father left us, I was three years old. A couple years later he came back, then six months after that he left again. Basically, he was back and forth out of my life my whole childhood, even doing my teenage years. We'll build a bond and then he'll disappear. I remember us having a long conversation on the same day I got expelled, he told me he was sorry for his absence, and he wanted me to call if I ever needed him, which I did but he never answered.

Next time I'd seen my father I was fifteen, and by this time I had dropped out of school. I was in the ninth grade. The reason I stopped going is because I'd seen my mother's paycheck on the table. I remember her working for two weeks straight, and her check only had $183 on it. I was very angry about that. I knew it was time for me to become a man, so I could help her out. I told her I'm not going back to school. She didn't agree with me, but my mind was already made up. I started selling drugs. My name was already respected in the streets because of all the school fights I was involved in; plus, people knew who my brother was, but I'll get to that part later. Once I started hustling, I was giving my mom money to go toward the bills. My sisters and brothers were helping her also as much as they could.

I think I felt more responsible because I was the baby boy of the family, and I was very emotional when it came to things like taking care of your mother and whoever else you loved. My heart was made different from the guys I was hustling with. We all had a get money type of mind frame, but I wanted more than money. I did not want to make a lifestyle out of selling drugs because I had a bigger hustle I was creating, like my music. The drugs I sold was also to help fund my rap career. I went to the studio at least three times a week. I started rapping because the pain I was dealing with became unbearable, and I needed a place I could go to express it. Music became my first love.

Months later, I started performing at open mic nights. People heard me rap, and they were loving it. The feeling I had from strangers put me in a confused state of mind. I was like, how do they care, but my own father didn't? It was clear to see I were still battling with that. After I released my first album months later, I'd finally seen my pops. I was