Some individuals get the idea that you have to follow their rules, but they do whatever, or whomever they choose, and that was C.J. He started off at the bottom, but he slowly made his way, with the help of some dirty cops, and the closest ones to him. The streets ruled out any type of loyalty and love that he had for his lady. C.J let the money and the women get the best of him, and he thought that love would maybe everything better, but it didn't. He kept putting Tamika in neglectful situations, and whether he knew it or not, he did more damage, than good.
Tamika loved C.J with all her heart, and he knew it. The streets were his weakness, and her weakness was him, and the material things. She was a good woman, however, she lost herself along the way. The loyalty, and love that she gave C.J just wasn't enough, because he wasn't ready. Tamika's only mistake was using men as pawns, when C.J abandoned her. The one mistake that she made, may have cost her her life.
Sparkle, or Keyundrah, needed to love herself, before she loved anyone else, but she didn't. Raheem was her air, her life, her everything, and drugs were her way of dealing with the pain. Just when things were going well for her, the guilt that she carried, made her relapsed, and once again, she lost everything. Now, she felt that she didn't have anyone to live for, so she lost her will to fight, or to survive.
Raheem was everything that C.J wasn't. He wasn't just a street thug, but one with so much potential, with intellect, sensitivity, and drive. He wanted a degree, and he was different from the rest. He didn't use women as toys, or take advantage of them, and his word was bond. He tried to warn C.J, but he didn't preach to him. Raheem loved Keyundrah, he loved her for her, and he loved that she loved him, however, he tried to make her a better woman. He didn't want her to be lost, and he reminded her of what she could be, what she should live for, but he couldn't do the work for her.
This novel reminds you not to mistreat people, and to not take anyone's love for granted. It's a novel that anyone can relate to.