youni’s Story

Born into a family with three girls, Whitney found herself in the shadow of her parents' unfulfilled desire for a son. As the middle child, she often felt overlooked, a circumstance that granted her the freedom to slip away from the watchful eyes of her strict parents. At the age of 17, her world took a grim turn when her father, a construction worker, suffered an injury, plunging the family into overwhelming debt.

The announcement of potential homelessness brought tears to her parents' eyes, etching a profound fear in Whitney's heart. She couldn't fathom her family losing their home – what would become of her little sister, and how would her father recover without a stable environment?

In a clandestine meeting with a friend that evening, a desperate plan unfolded. Luis, the owner of a city strip club, presented an unconventional solution: Whitney could use her looks to make money. The catch was acquiring a fake ID and leaving for the city that night, a decision Whitney made with a heavy heart, leaving her family with only a cryptic note.

In the city, Whitney, adopting the stage name Youni Browne, embraced the nightlife and the secrecy it afforded. Luis connected her with the city's wealthiest clients, allowing her to send anonymous financial support to her family every month. A year passed, and Youni felt ready to return home.

Standing at her parents' doorstep, anxiety gripped Youni. Questions and uncertainties flooded her mind. As her mother opened the door, the past year's worry and stress evaporated from her face, replaced by tears and relief. Yet, her father's expression betrayed a mix of hurt and disappointment.

Hugging her mother tightly, Youni's joy turned to concern for her father. As he approached, his hand on her mother's shoulder seemed to pull her away, revealing a deeper pain. His words pierced the air, accusing Youni of selfishness, of causing untold worry and anguish.

"Selfish" echoed in Youni's mind, a stinging reminder of the unintended consequences of her actions. The desire to explain, to share the truth about the past year, clashed with the slamming of the door in her face. Her attempts to shield her family had inadvertently left scars, and as she stood alone on the doorstep, she grappled with the consequences of the choices made in the name of love and survival.

Walking away from what she knew as her only home, Youni left her past behind without knowing what the future would hold. The nearest bus stop had no one. The light was flickering and everything looked and felt ominous. As she sat on the bench, conflicted and confused, a limo drove up to her. Youni wouldn’t have noticed if the gold rim of the number plate had not thrown a soft light on the road. The window rolled down and a man stepped out. He looked like a villain out of some old English movie. His hat covered his face, well almost all of it. “Ms Browne, might I have a word?”

Youni looked up, a bit perplexed. She did not know him. Her voice was shaky as she responded, “Yes?”