Running from Yesterday

A True Story of Hope, Courage and Love

“One day, I find a bottle of Smirnoff under the kitchen sink. I have never seen anyone drink it, but I know it is liquor. I take a giant swig. Holy burning! I feel like my throat is torched. It takes what seems like forever to stop stinging. When it does, I forget I am angry, lonely, and especially sad. I feel so sad at only ten years old."

Margarette's story begins in Harlem—where survival comes before everything else, and childhood doesn't last long. From an early age, she learns how to endure pain—and finds her escape in a world where she feels both free and truly seen.

Dance. The stage. The spotlight.

But life has other plans.

When her dreams of pursuing a career in the performing arts are crushed, she finds a new path—and walks it all the way to the NYPD, sworn to protect the very streets that raised her. To the world, she is strong, disciplined, and in control. Behind closed doors, she is fighting a battle no one can see.

Addiction.

Running from Yesterday is the story of a dream deferred, then buried, then—against all odds—reclaimed.

It is the story of a woman who finally stops running from her past and turns to face it, so she can step fully into the life she has always known, deep down, she was meant to live.

This book will make you laugh. It will break your heart. And it will remind you—no matter where you begin, you have the power to rise.

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Reader Praise

“Thank you for your courage and vulnerability. I always admired your tenacity and your ability to remain kind. I'm happy to have met you and honored that you're still a part of my life.”

— Shaquonda Bibbins-Blakes

“I finished your book and I just have to say how blown away I am. You are such an amazing writer and storyteller and an even more amazing person! Your story is inspiring, heart wrenching, and yet laced with humor and optimism.”

— Chelsea

“I read it in one weekend; I couldn’t put it down. From the very beginning, Margarette captivates your heart, holds on, and has you rooting for her until the very end. It’s a story of bravery and triumph in the face of emotional and physical hardships and shattered dreams that many will relate to.”

— Kayla