Papillon Cocoon: A Black Phoenix Rising

By Munirah Nailah

Phoenix Ashby is an acronym for puberty and adolescence. It is an acknowledgement of the issues which young girls face on their journey to self-fulfillment.
The story is written through the eyes of a teenage girl who after reaching puberty finds herself on a roller coaster of sexual liaisons culminating in an abortion.
Phoenixs experiences growing up in the church-centered contradiction of a small Caribbean island, provides a fitting backdrop upon which her life story can be finally told. It is a mosaic of life, love, joy, pain and almost happy endings.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483609461

Munirah Nailah

Munirah Nailah loosely translated means one who succeeds; enlightener. The author believes that everyone has success imprinted into their life only to be explored by choosing the right path. Her overarching philosophy ‘We Are Our brother’s Keeper.’ Munirah Nailah is a wife, mother, educator, artist, author, music composer, business entrepreneur and proud Caribbean woman. She has a keen interest in historical, social and political developments within the Caribbean as well as internationally. She has won academic and artistic awards at the national level and has recently received two awards in the UK song contest 2011 and 2012 respectively for two original music compositions ‘A Soul to Love’ and ‘Phoenix Rises.’ Munirah is a proud graduate of the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill, Erdiston Teachers’ Training College, Barbados Institute of Management and Productivity, St. Michael (Girls’) School and Hindsbury Primary School. She blends her academic pursuits and achievements with a rich seasoning of theatre-in-education . She has performed on stage as an actress, dancer/choreographer from approximately five years of age. The story of ‘Phoenix’ captures what the author hopes will be a message of hope that serves to inspire the success in all of us.

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COPYRIGHT © 2013 BY MUNIRAH NAILAH.

FIRST EDITION 2007

COVER DESIGN CONCEPT BY

MUNIRAH NAILAH©

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 03/22/2013

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CONTENTS

Preface

Chapter 1   Damaged

Chapter 2   Soiled

Chapter 3   Climbing

Chapter 4   Healing

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my family and friends

and to those who were not.

To the heroes of my past, who supported me

in the best of times

and the worst of times

— Munirah Nailah

Some people write for literary appreciation.

I write for the healing.

— Munirah Nailah

Preface

Phoenix Ashby is an acronym for puberty and adolescence. It is an acknowledgement of the issues which young girls face on their journey to self-fulfillment.

The story is written through the eyes of a teenage girl who after reaching puberty finds herself on a roller coaster of sexual liaisons culminating in an abortion.

Phoenix’s experiences growing up in the church-centered contradiction of a small Caribbean island, provides a fitting backdrop upon which her life