Pray for Prey

By Priscilla Mitchel

"Pray For Prey" is an emotional and inspirational memoir that delves into the life of the author, as they navigate a tumultuous and often heart-wrenching journey marked by trials, tragedies, and ultimately, triumph. In this compelling narrative, the author shares their profound experiences, personal growth, and unwavering resilience in the face of life's many challenges.

The story begins with a tumultuous childhood, marked by the trials of growing up in a household filled with abuse and hardships. The author's unwavering love for their family, particularly their parents, becomes a powerful force throughout their life. The untimely passing of the author's father sets the stage for the pivotal role their mother plays in their journey.

As the author's family faces an array of adversities, from financial struggles to health crises, they showcase a remarkable ability to rebuild and provide support for one another. "Pray For Prey" emphasizes the strength and enduring love that can exist within a family, even amidst the darkest times.

The narrative takes an unexpected turn when the author's mother is diagnosed with late-stage cancer. The family comes together, learning to cope with the impending loss while navigating their emotions and rekindling their relationships. The book explores the themes of forgiveness, redemption, and finding hope even in the face of tragedy.

Amidst the heartache, the story takes an unexpected twist as the author reconnects with their first love after over two decades. This renewal of a deep and passionate connection provides a poignant contrast to the sorrow and loss they've experienced. Together, the couple explores the power of second chances and the joys of rediscovering love.

"Pray For Prey" is a story of hope, redemption, and the enduring strength of family bonds. It serves as a testament to the human spirit's capacity to overcome adversity, to forgive, and to find love once again. The author's journey reminds us all that the ties that bind us can be both fragile and unbreakable, and that they define who we are and who we can become. This memoir is a celebration of love, resilience, and the pursuit of happiness in the face of life's greatest challenges.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Priscilla Mitchel
• Release date: Nov 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223012368

Priscilla Mitchel

I am a black powerful  entrepreneur who  weep the struggles physical, mentally and emotional. I believe in hard work  which can bring you success. I also believe in pain which also brings you clarity and closure.

Book preview

A New Beginning

Growing up in the inner city of Miami-Dade County in the hometown of Allapattah, I began my childhood under the care of my Grandmother Elouise Melicia Edouard. From the moment I came into this world, she affectionately called me her little Pray Pray, a nickname that would later evolve into the name the world now knows me by, Prey. As you read along, you will discover the transformation from a church girl named Pray into the new girl, Prey.

At first, I believed my grandmother was my mother, only to learn later that she wasn't. My real mother, Marlene V. Mitchel, left me with my grandparents and two aunts less than a month after my birth. This is where our journey begins.

Marlene grew up in the beautiful paradise of Nassau, Bahamas. While my grandparents were visiting the island, my grandmother, despite being due in three and a half weeks, was determined to make one last trip before giving birth to her last two daughters. To make things even more intriguing, my mother was a fraternal twin to one of my aunts. You see, my grandmother originally hailed from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and decided not to raise my mother in Haiti since the twins were born in the Bahamas. She planned to raise my mother in the Bahamas instead. So, they moved there shortly after my birth, and they haven't looked back since.

They settled into a comfortable home where they nurtured their daughters and sons until all nine children were grown enough to leave the nest. Yes, my grandmother had nine kids. Those were the old-school days when life revolved around attending church, where the wives managed the household, prepared meals, and cared for the children. When the husband returned home from work, it was their duty to cater to him physically, emotionally, and through his stomach. This was how all the women in our family were raised by my grandmother. In the modern era, women are empowered, they are bosses, and they make their own moves, but I still hold the belief that a woman can do all of those things while understanding that a man will always be the head of the household, and he respectfully makes the final decisions in a married couple. This is what the Bible says, and this is how we women were brought up.

All of my mother's siblings were older than her and her twin, so they decided to move to New York City in pursuit of a better life. The twins, my grandmother, and my grandfather (until he passed away) stayed behind. They continued to make trips to Haiti because they still had a house there, which they had entrusted to my grandmother's oldest brother. Additionally, they made frequent visits to Florida and New York for business purposes since my grandfather was involved in the exporting business. During his travels, he often brought along the family.

As for my aunts, they eventually moved permanently to New York, where they pursued careers in nursing. One of them became an RN, and another an LPN. They rented an apartment together in Jamaica, Queens, to complete their nursing careers. My uncles, on the other hand, pursued various paths in life. One of them aspired to be a musician, and another became a garbage man. I'm not as closely connected to the other three uncles, so I'm not quite certain about their life journeys.

This is where the story of my upbringing and family dynamics takes shape, setting the stage for the unique journey I am about to share.

The Unforgettable Meeting

Aunt Sonya had a penchant for traveling to the Dominican Republic, and it was during one of her trips that she crossed paths with a man named Salvador Mitchel, who would later become my father. Sonya and Salvador struck up a great friendship because he worked at a small mechanic shop in the D.R., conveniently located next door to the house where my aunt would stay. My aunt was known for her outspoken nature and, on one of her visits, she made a bold statement to my father. She said, Hey, if anything ever happens to my friend's car, you guys will fix it for free, right? My aunt later shared with me that the locals looked at her and her friend as if they were crazy, and they would just laugh it off as if it were a playful exchange that occurred every time she visited.

One day, my father approached her and said, Hey, you always stop by, but I never see a car. Since you and your friends always come by here, why don't you work here? And, of course, we will fix your car for free if you have one. He would look at her and smile, though he rarely gave a direct response. She described him as polite, handsome, and possessing a killer smile, and although she didn't particularly like him, she admired his gentlemanly demeanor. With each visit to the Dominican Republic, my aunt and my father built a strong friendship.

One day, as they conversed, my aunt suggested to him, You know what, you should consider dating my sister. He was taken aback, asking, Your sister? Why? Remember, he had never seen my mother before, and to the best of my knowledge, she was quite attractive, with many suitors vying for her affection. However, she was known for her strict adherence to Christianity, her pickiness, straightforwardness, shyness, and her preference for solitude and books over a social life, even back then. While her sisters were out playing sports or socializing, my mother would be at home, tending to household chores, cooking, and staying with my