THE END

Chapter 24- Forged by Fire

As Angel wakes up in the ambulance, she finds Gerald right next her, smiling at her. Monique is outside the ambulance, making sure her children are okay. The paramedics inform Angel, Gerald, and Monique that Jordan died on his way out. He slipped and fell at the doorway of the apartment. Monique is welcomed into the ambulance by Angel, and as she got in, Tiger, Angel's cat, came in as well. With the fire and fear behind the two children, their lives can be forged anew.

I was greatly happy to find out that Jordan had died. That way, the children and Monique would never have to worry about him again. Although traumatized by their past, it is time for Gerald and Angel to move on, and live their lives. Monique was not hurt about Jordan's death, she was just worried for Gerald and Angel. All is well, and hopefully Monique will become a better mother than she was before. Forged by Fire was a very good book. It was full of reality, and it really showed the true aspects of what abuse is about. I enjoyed this book very much, and would definitely recommend it to other readers.

Chapter 23- Forged by Fire

Gerald walked in and found out that the apartment was on fire. He looked for Angel and saw Jordan walking slowly to the foot of the bed to where Angel was. Gerald yelled at Jordan, and Jordan leaped toward him. They began to fight, and Gerald got pretty badly hurt. Yet, Gerald was able to take Jordan's legs out from under him and make him fall. Jordan was stunned for a bit, but then realized the fire and escaped. Gerald picked up Angel and tried to get out of the apartment through the commotion of the fire. Gerald tripped over a black mass in the doorway, but was able to breath the fresher air that was close to the ground. Then, he slinked down the first flight of steps and ended on a landing. Gerald then heard the noise of boots, and the noise of his mother looking for her children.

This chapter was very intense, and it made me very excited to read the next and last chapter. I'm anticipating to find out what happens to all the characters, including the terrible Jordan. This chapter was deeply compelling, and added suspense to what would happen next.

Chapter 22- Forged by Fire

Rob's funeral passes by, and all who knew him missed him deeply. Gerald began walking home instead of taking the bus every once in a while, so as to clear his head and think about things. One night, coming home at around midnight, he came home and Jordan was alone with Angel. Yet, Jordan wasn't doing anything, and Angel said he was fine. Later, after Angel tried to cheer Gerald up, they started to play around. Jordan walked in just as they were having fun, and he yelled at them, but then he apologized afterward. When Angel got home late in the afternoon after dance, she went to Miss Martin's like usual. However, when she got there, the door was locked. Unconcerned, Angel just went home instead. When she went in, she saw nobody there, so she decided to warm up some hot dogs and turn her music up loud. She almost didn't even notice when Jordan walked into the room, but she could smell his disgusting cologne. Jordan is drunk, and begins molesting her, while Angel refused as much as she could. He yelled that he wasn't actually her father, and then he took her to the bedroom and onto the bed. While all this was happening, the hot dogs on the stove, dried up and ignited a flame, which fed for large flames that began to engulf the kitchen.

Earlier in the chapter, Jordan seems to be trustworthy, which leads me to believe that Jordan is becoming a better person. Yet, this is probably exactly what he wanted the children to think. Since Angel was comfortable with being alone with Jordan, she wasn't afraid of going to her apartment. Hopefully Gerald will be able to jump in and save Angel like he did once before. One can only hope.

Chapter 21- Forged by Fire

Monique began to get better as Gerald and Angel watered down her beer and gave her multivitamins instead of the drugs that she asked for, which they flushed down the toilet happily. Things were getting better. Angel began dancing again, and Gerald began basketball once more. After the basketball game of November 7, Rob and the rest of the team went to the locker room. They joked around with each other and had a good time. Rob invited Gerald to go drinking and hang out, but Gerald had to say no, because he had to be home with Angel. While Gerald was at home, he received a call from Keisha, which is whose house Rob and the others were going to hang out at. She was wondering where Andy was, who was with Rob, and Gerald thought that maybe they just decided to hang out somewhere else. Later, Gerald started to worry, so he called Keisha, B.J., Andy, and Rob. There was no answer from any of these calls. Yet, finally, he reached Rhonda, who gave him very saddening news. Andy ran into a wall with the car, and there was an explosion. Everyone made it out except for Rob. Gerald grieved with Angel over Rob's death, and went to his family's house to share in their grievances for a short time. Then, they went back to their home.

I was deeply saddened to read about Rob's death. Things have gotten bad once more. The cycle of happiness to deep depression will hopefully coming to an end.

Chapter 20- Forged by Fire

Jordan left the apartment and went to a bar after the power went out. He came back later, and his window air conditioner was gone. Jordan began to yell and he hit Monique. Then, when Gerald walked in, Jordan hit him in the face. After that, he stormed out. While Gerald was washing his face, Monique came in and washed her face as well. And, for a split second, she came back to her senses. She realized that she didn't like being hit, and she didn't like that Gerald was hit either. Then, she faded away again, and back to her room to watch the blank TV. Angel and Gerald decided not to call the police, and hoped that they made the right choice.

I wasn't too surprised when Jordan flipped out. I expected him to lose his cool eventually. Yet, I think that Monique getting slapped may have been a good thing. It may have made her progress in healing. I expect that Jordan will act up again. Yet, hopefully, Gerald will have the chance to stop it.

Chapter 19- Forged by Fire

Luckily, Monique did not die from the accident. She just had minor injuries and a head problem. Gerald's mother began to take drugs that Jordan gave her to ease the pain. Also, she would watch TV all of the time, even when it was off, and she would just stare at it.

I'm Monique isn't dead, but her head injury might make her distant from the children. Hopefully, she will heal, and begin to take better care of her children.