Pressure

Two boys.

One full of fire, the other with a quiet calm. One feels the weight of the world's expectations, the other resists them. Through a rhythm of words, their story unfolds- one pushing against the tide, the other quietly holding his ground.

In a dance of tension and choices, one tries to make sense of the noise that demands anger, while the other finds power in a different path. But as the tale spins toward its surprising end, you'll realize the story isn't what you thought it was-and what's really at stake isn't just what's said, but what's left unsaid.

A story about strength, silence, and the quiet rebellion of being yourself. Read once... and then again.

Phoenix A. Muhammad is a compassionate psychotherapist and an enthusiastic writer dedicated to creating stories that inspire and uplift. As the founder of Phoenix Marriage & Family Therapy, PLLC, she helps clients heal from various forms of emotional and psychological abuse, empowering them on their journey to recovery and resilience. Through her writing, Phoenix aims to expand her reach, providing adults and children with the tools to understand their feelings and navigate their worlds with courage and empathy.In addition, Phoenix is an Executive Contributor for the global digital magazine, Brainz, where she shares insights and ideas that resonate with readers around the world. She is also involved in screenplay development, blending her love for storytelling across different mediums.As an adjunct professor at NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, Phoenix shares her passion for service with graduate students, inspiring the next generation of therapists.Through her work, Phoenix A. Muhammad aims to foster curiosity, empathy, and resilience, making her books and journals a wonderful addition to any reader's library.

Janine Carrington is an artist of Caribbean heritage who specializes in Black affirming children's books and comics. Born in Toronto, Ontario and taught the basics of drawing by her father, she went on to study art in high school and at the Ontario College of Art andDesign. She spent her last year of college in Florence, Italy, and traveled extensively to countries of the African diaspora. She has been working professionally since 2008 for herself and with authors and educators to create art that uplifts al children, especially those of colour.

After obtaining her BS in Secondary English Education and MA in English from Slippery Rock University of PA, Stacy embarked on a successful teaching career that spanned public, government, and charter schools ni Pittsburgh, PA, Oklahoma City, Norman, OK, and Okinawa, Japan. Stacy proudly earned a 2004 Fulbright-Hays Seminar Scholarship to Thailand and Vietnam from the United States Department of Education, Teacher of the Year in two schools, as wel as other teaching accolades.Stacy presently works as a virtual freelancer, private English and ESL tutor, online editor/proofreader, and blogger at https: //www.upwork.com/fl/stacyshaneytelt.