Outskirts Press, INC.

A Magnolia Withers When It’s Attached To Nothing…

Annabella Garland comes from a successful, religious, Black family from New Orleans, Louisiana. They are the envy of most who know them. Annabella has a problem though. Her mom and dad are getting a divorce and she’s stuck right in the middle of their fury. Annabella is trying to make sense of it all while not losing herself in the process. As an intuitive child, wise beyond her years, Annabella senses her family’s life is only going to get uglier with more dire consequences than anyone around her could have ever imagined. As Annabella matures, she struggles to deal with her narcissistic, abusive mother who hates her, her alcoholic father whom she’s the closest to and her older siblings who care far more about themselves than they ever could about her. Annabella contemplates the events that occurred long before she was brought into the world such as the upbringing of her parents, the introduction into their cult-like religion and the plans, if any, her mother and father had for their family all along. Annabella endures a lot of pain but the few happy times and laughs she shares with her family are just the tiniest flicker of light, bright enough to guide her through even the darkest of times.