1
SELENA
Nerves fire at me from all angles, but I plaster a smile on my face and look up at the MC as he begins the video introduction. Keanu slips his hand into mine and squeezes. He moves his mouth to my ear. “Breathe, baby. I’ve got you. You know you can do this,” he says as a round of applause breaks out in the crowded ballroom of the prestigious five-star hotel. The prerecorded short video starts playing, and my muscles relax the instant I see Moonlight, my sanctuary for abuse survivors, on the screen. The opening scene is an aerial shot, and it showcases the facility in perfect clarity.
“You should be proud,” Eva whispers, from the other side of me. “This is the manifestation of all your hard work and dedication. You deserve this, and your speech will be great. Try not to worry.” Her sincere warm brown eyes lock on my face. “You run a multimillion-dollar charity organization that has supported thousands of survivors in the three years since you opened your doors. A little speech won’t faze you.”
“Thank you,” I choke out over a lump in my throat. “I have gotten better at public speaking, but it’s still not easy.”
“You will do everyone proud, and we’re here for you.”
I smile as I glance along the row where our family is seated. Everyone is here. Well, the adults plus the teenagers. The younger kids are at home with babysitters, but we have a party arranged for them tomorrow when we all get together for a private family dinner at my in-laws’ house.
Brad and Rachel flew in from Ireland, where they’ve been based these past eighteen months, and Mom cut her honeymoon short to be here. I’m touched both couples made the effort to attend. It means a lot to me. “I’m grateful to have so much support. Every day, I count my blessings to have such an amazing family.”
It’s no lie. I lost my biological family to the monsters who kidnapped me, and after I escaped, it was just Sandrine—my adopted mom—and me for a long time. Until I married Keanu and inherited his family. I adore the Kennedys, and they have welcomed Mom and me with open arms.
Life is pretty damn perfect. Even my inability to conceive a child these past five years didn’t put a dampener on my mood for long. I never forget what I went through and how different things could be now, so I’m grateful for every blessing and fortunate for everything and everyone I have in my life. Perhaps that is the reason why—
“You’re missing it,” Keanu whispers, cutting through my thoughts as he jerks his head at the screen. I redirect my gaze to the video, smiling at Ulrich’s handsome face as he talks animatedly about his time at Moonlight. I have seen this video countless times already, but a surge of pride swells my chest each time I watch it.
On the screen, I’m giving a whistle-stop tour of the facility, pausing to chat to some of our residents. A couple of them kindly agreed to provide biographies and to talk about their time at Moonlight,describing how it has helped them to process their trauma and taught them new coping strategies. The work my team does doesn’t stop there though. We have a ton of programs that provide new skills and a range of ways we support their future plans in preparation for when they return to life outside the facility.
Another round of applause breaks out as the video ends, and the MC clears his throat. “Our annual awards celebrate the work of charities, community groups, individuals, and voluntary organizations who have made a difference in our society and changed our country for the better. This is an opportunity to shine a light on the unsung heroes who dedicate themselves to others. Tonight, we have recognized and celebrated many people and organizations who have been a lifeline for others through the support they provide. Once again, I would ask you to join me in thanking all of them for their efforts.”
Robust applause rings out around the large elegantly decorated ballroom. When hush descends again, the MC continues while I fight a fresh bout of nerves. “Our final award of the night is the Impact Award. This award is given to one enterprise or individual who has achieved a significant impact in their charitable endeavors. A person or entity who has set a guiding light for others to follow and brought awareness to a cause. Tonight, we are delighted to present this award to Selena Kennedy and Moonlight. As we have just seen, the support services they offer to victims of sex trafficking and sexual abuse is unprecedented and beyond anything else available within the US. We believe Moonlight paves the way for other similar rehabilitative facilities, which are much needed in our society, but it is more than that. Selena herself has bravely spoken about her own experiences and in doing so has highlighted the very concerning issue of global human trafficking. Selena is spearheading a lobby group to secure more funding to support survivors and to establish a specialist sex trafficking unit to bring more heat down on these criminals. She is an inspiration to all of us and a very worthy recipient of this special award.”
Raucous applause breaks out as the tall, gray-haired MC smiles and gestures for me to approach. My family and friends stand, as I rise, beaming at me with proud smiles. Mom and Alex have tears in their eyes, and if I’m not mistaken, I think Kyler has too. “I’m so proud of you, Sel.” Keanu bends his head and kisses me. “You amaze me every single day.”
“I love you.” I give him a quick hug.
“You’ve got this,” he reminds me, squeezing my hand.
“I do.” Thrusting my shoulders back, I project confidence as I walk up the steps to the podium. I might be a basket case on the inside, but I won’t let my team or the residents down. This is as much their award as it is mine. Behind me, my family whoops and hollers and shouts out their encouragement.
The MC shakes my hand before giving me a crystal cup engraved with a personal plaque. We turn to the front, facing the crowd, as more applause rings out, and several camera flashes go off as the press in attendance takes photos. A few catcalls ring out from the front row, and I don’t need to look to know it’s Kalvin and Kent.
When the ruckus has died down, I place the cup on a side table and discreetly wipe my clammy palms down the sides of my figure-hugging, long, gold and silver ballgown. Approaching the microphone, I adjust it to my height and pray I remember the words I memorized this past week. Even though reading my speech would be far easier, I want this to be from the heart.
“I would like to thank the Charity Enterprise Corporation for this amazing honor. I am humbled and awed to be recognized in this way and thrilled to be among so many incredible people here tonight who have done so much for their communities and to support others. This award means a lot to me, not just because it helps to validate the work we are doing at Moonlight, and to bring even more awareness to the services we provide, but mostly because it is the culmination of years and years of hard work by so many people to get this charity off the ground.”
I gulp back my nerves. “I have a lot of people I need to thank, so please bear with me.” I offer a nervous smile to the crowd before my gaze instantly finds my husband’s. Keanu’s encouraging smile helps to scrub the edge off my anxiety.
“Firstly, I want to thank my husband for always believing in me and helping to make this happen. From the first moment I met Keanu, as a frightened traumatized fifteen-year-old, he has sought to support me and raise me up, and his love has given me the strength and the courage to battle my demons and fight to bring awareness to the global human-trafficking problem.” I look down at my husband with a heart full of love. “Moonlight would not exist without him, and I owe him so much. I love you, Keanu.”
He blows me a kiss, and the last of my anxiety fades away. I return my focus center stage and continue. “I also need to thank my mother, Sandrine Douglas, for her constant kindness, love, and support. She welcomed me into her home, knowing how broken I was, and never for one minute did her support waver. She helped me to become the woman I am today, as did my therapist, Denise, a woman who gently coaxed me back to life. She couldn’t be here tonight, but she is the unsung heroine in my story.”
My gaze lowers to the Kennedys, and the outpouring of love and pride is almost tangible. “I owe the entire Kennedy family a debt I can never repay. Thank you, Alex, for giving me a chance when most fashion labels would not have hired a model with such limitations. Thank you for your kindness and for opening your family to me.”
“We love you,” my mother-in-law mouths, and I wish I could hug her, to let her know how much I appreciate her. I think she knows, and hopefully my words cement it.
Forcing my wandering mind to focus, I return to my speech. “Not only have the Kennedys made me feel loved and cherished, but every single person in my family has contributed in some way toward Moonlight. Thank you, Kalvin, for diligently working for years with a skilled team of architects to bring my vision for the facility to life.”
Kalvin nods, looking a little sheepish, which is most unlike him.
“My mother-in-law and father-in-law fundraised tirelessly to get the development off the ground, and they have personally donated on an annual basis. All my brothers-in-law and their spouses have contributed in different ways. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for giving up your precious time to give back to others. You are all wonderful people with big hearts, and I’m so blessed to call you my family.”
My chest heaves with powerful emotion as I push on. “I need to say a special thanks to Kyler Kennedy. Kyler works full-time at Moonlight as our CFO, and it is his financial expertise and insight that allow us to offer so many survivors a temporary home while they heal. Kyler’s passion for the work we do matches my own, and I hope you know I could not do it without you,” I say, looking at my brother-in-law as he fights to hold back his tears.
