Denim Diaries 4 Lib/E: Broken Promises

Jumping double-dutch is 12-year-old Tiffany's favorite pastime. She's the most talented jumper at her school, incorporating flips and stunts into her routine. All that practice has made her the best in the mid-state area, good enough to enter into an upcoming competition. Then suddenly, her demeanor changes and she stops jumping rope altogether. Her mother, who wasn't thrilled about Tiffany's obsession in the first place, easily accepts her excuse that she's just not feeling well. Tiffany's 16-year-old brother Levar, however, becomes suspicious there is more to the story when he catches her burning her clothes in a dumpster near the house. Unable to get his sister to open up to him, Levar shares his concerns with his friend Denim, who offers to reach out to Tiffany. Unfortunately, Tiffany withdraws even more when the unimaginable darkens Levar's door and threatens to rip Tiffany's family apart forever.

Darrien Lee, a graduate of Tennessee State University, is a two-time Essence bestselling author. She has been featured in Romantic Times magazine and the Nashville Tennessean. She lives in La Vergne, Tennessee, with her husband and two daughters.