Between Us, Vol XI, Issue 3, October 2001
Writing from the Hall Branch Library

This fantastic issue of JOT features writing by nearly 20 writers from NWA's longest-running writing group, held weekly at Bronzeville's historic Hall Branch of the Chicago Public Library. The magazine is beautifully illustrated with photographs by John Brooks, whose work has been seen in DoubleTake, the New York Times, the Chicago Cultural Center, and in the CITY 2000 project. We have a limited number of copies of this issue available for $5. Email us for more information. Read an excerpt below.

Loved Me to Death
by Nytalya Sadie Smith

Seventeen years ago my daughter and I met someone who we thought was a wonderful man. He later became my lover and the father of my other four children. We are not together now. Sisters, let my testimony give you the strength to leave any man who abuses you. Sisters, your life has value, you deserve peace, respect and to live an abuse-free life.

My nightmare began in 1984 and ended in 1988.

I was young, attractive, carefree, and full of life. I had so much to live fo; my daughter, my dreams, the future, and myself. Then one day I met this man. I found out later he was a fraud. He wined and dined me, courted me like no other had. He was a wolf in sheep's clothing. He was worse than bad.

He told me he loved me, messed with my head. He loved me so hard I ended up in his bed. From our union, I carried his seeds that formed into four little precious ones. He soon became tired of me, and nothing I did was ever right. Day after day all I had to look forward to was another fight.

He'd tell me, "See what you made me do? I don't mean to hit you girl, I love you." And that went on for seconds, minutes, hours, and days until it turned into years. So by now I know you can imagine how long I lived with my tears.

My friends, family, and community thought I stayed out of love for him. People, I stayed because I feared him. I got the strength to leave a miscarriage later, a rape later, and three deaths later, but by that time it was too late, so I thought.

You see, spiritually, emotionally I was dead. Physically I wasn't. I was just an empty shell.

He broke my spirit, devoured my soul. He drained me dry, and through it all he said he loved me. He showed me his definition of love. I never knew what real love meant. Then one day, Jesus smiled on me. He removed him from my life. He slowly healed me. He worked miracles on my heart, soul, spirit, and mind. He showed me a deeper love. Jesus is my constant companion. He rescued me from my ex-boyfriend...who nearly loved me to death.

Between Us
by Michael Bowie

Our opportunity lies here
Right in front of us
Right now
Between our hearts
Together even when
Our lives are not
Together through the daily
Routine, 9 to 5, family, friends
And other things
Between those times so bad
Our opportunity lies here
Because we're the best we've ever had
Our opportunity lies here
Between the silence
When we're on the phone
Between the nights when we're
Both home alone
Talking about what we
Don't miss
Because tomorrow we will create
And reminisce
That is where our opportunity
Lies between blue skies
That sometimes rain
Between tomorrow's joy
And yesterday's pain
Because no matter what
We will be together
Just the same

© 2001 Neighborhood Writing Alliance
All rights revert to the authors.