Grant Middle School,
1st Day of 8th Grade Sade’s Point of View The first day of eighth grade felt like stepping into a whole new world. The hallways were louder, the classes were bigger, and everything seemed to scream, “You’re almost in high school!” Sade walked through the bustling halls of Grant Middle School with Isla by her side, clutching her schedule. “Switching classes, new teachers, and gym at the end of the day?” Sade thought, shaking her head. “Yeah, this is going to be a ride.” At 13, Sade had grown into herself more. She wasn’t the shy kid she used to be. Her hair, now free of the braids and extensions she used to wear, was a crown of thick, springy curls her mom had finally taught her how to style. Her mom had also let her start wearing light makeup—just enough to bring out her eyes and add a little shine to her lips. “Okay,” Isla said, pulling out her schedule as they walked. “Four classes together this year. That’s pretty good, right?” Sade nodded. “Not bad. Except…” She leaned over to peek at Isla’s schedule again. “Looks like you got Crabby Patty for science again this year.” Isla groaned. “Don’t remind me. She’s so mean and still annoying.” “Speaking of annoying, I just saw Marco. Let’s just say he has changed,” Isla added with a roll of her eyes. Sade laughed. “Maybe. But he’s definitely not the same scrawny kid from back in fifth grade.” That much was true. Marco had gone through a growth spurt over the summer. He wasn’t the short, skinny kid he used to be. At 5’9” and 145 pounds, Marco was now taller than most of the guys in their grade. His hair had grown out into soft curls, and while Sade hated to admit it, he wasn’t as awkward-looking as before. “Let’s just hope he’s less of a pain now,” Sade thought, though she wasn’t holding her breath. By the time they reached gym class—the only class they shared with Marco—Sade felt more comfortable. The day had gone smoothly so far, and she was ready to breeze through the last period. The locker room was loud with chatter as everyone changed into their gym uniforms. Sade pulled on her gym shirt and sighed. She wasn’t going to admit it out loud, but switching to middle school gym class had her feeling a little nervous. “Girl,” Isla said, glancing over at Sade, “are your boobs ever going to stop growing?” Sade froze for a second before laughing it off. “I don’t know! I’m already in a C-cup. Do you know how annoying that is? I can’t even wear some of my favorite shirts anymore!” Isla laughed, crossing her arms over her chest. “Meanwhile, I’m over here looking like I just started fifth grade. Life ain’t fair.” Sade walked over and gave Isla a playful nudge. “Stop. You’re perfect the way you are. And besides, you’ve got a face that can stop traffic.” Isla gave a small smile, grateful for the encouragement. They headed out to the gym, ready for whatever activity was planned. As they joined the other students, Sade spotted Marco jogging over. His smile was a little too confident, and before she knew it, he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close. “Yo, Sade,” he said, leaning in a little too close. “When you gon’ quit playin’ and let me be your man?” Sade blinked, caught off guard for half a second, then pushed him back. “Boy, if you don’t back your thirsty ass up… Marco’s grin didn’t fade. “We’ll see. You’ll come around, love.” Sade planted her hands on her hips, narrowing her eyes. “Keep dreaming, Marco. You’re not as smooth as you think.” Isla burst out laughing as Marco shrugged and walked off to join his friends. “That boy’s got nerve,” Sade muttered. “Nerve and no shame,” Isla added, still laughing. The gym teacher blew the whistle, calling the class to order. As the girls lined up, Sade couldn’t help but glance at Marco. At the same time, he glanced back at her and started making kissy lips, laughing with his friends. Sade overheard his friend Dre say, “Homie, she got some big ones.” Next thing she knew, Marco punched Dre in the arm snapping back with, “Shut the fuck up, bro!” Sade shook her head, rolling her eyes. He was still annoying, but at least he wasn’t pulling braids or popping straps anymore. He actually seemed more grown up. “Eighth grade is already off to a wild start,” she thought, shaking her head with a grin.Marco’s POVMarco sat in his car, gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. The weight of the evening pressed down on him from the conversation with Sade, the way she walked away without looking back, the cold finality in her voice. He felt sick. He had ruined everything.Without thinking, he pulled out his phone and sent a message.Marco: We fucked up. We so fucked up. I want my family back.He stared at the screen, waiting. No typing bubble appeared. No immediate reply. The silence gnawed at him. Then, his phone lit up, Incoming Call: Isla.His breath hitched as he hesitated before answering. “Hey...”A deep, furious voice cut him off."You motherfucker."Marco’s stomach dropped. It wasn’t Isla. It was Shane."You talking about your family?" Shane spat. "You destroyed my family!"Marco could hear Isla crying in the background. He closed his eyes, his regret thickening. "Shane, man....""Don't fucking Shane me! I mean nothing to you, huh? We've known each othe
Marco’s POVMarco sat in the dimly lit living room, the only sound coming from the clock ticking on the wall. His phone sat beside him, screen dark, just as it had been for weeks. He had called. He had texted. He had begged. But Sade never responded.Until now.His heart nearly stopped when his phone buzzed. He snatched it up, breath catching as he read the message.Sade: Meet me at Robertson Park at 6:30.For a moment, he just stared, rereading the words over and over. A light bulb went off in his head, and a rush of hope flooded his chest. She wanted to meet. She was finally giving him a chance to talk.Jumping to his feet, he grabbed his keys, barely stopping to check the time. He still had an hour, but that didn’t matter. He needed to be there. He needed to make things right.And maybe, just maybe, this was the first step in getting her back.Marco sat on the bench at Robertson Park, his leg bouncing anxiously. He was early. Too early. But waiting alone in the cold felt better tha
Anonymous POVThe walls of the lab felt colder than usual. The sterile air, once a comfort in its predictability, now pressed in on Sade like an invisible weight. August bled into September, yet time felt irrelevant. She moved like a ghost through her own life, floating from her desk to the lab, from the microscope to her laptop, mechanically completing tasks that once brought her pride. She still excelled, her work remained impeccable, her contributions essential, but she was nothing more than a machine, performing functions without feeling.She hadn't redone her braids. New growth had overtaken the neat parts, stray strands slipping from their places. Her outfits, once a reflection of her confident and polished self, had lost all intention. Nothing matched. Nothing mattered.People at work noticed.Her colleagues had stopped inviting her to lunch, not out of cruelty, but because she no longer responded. They would see her sitting at her station, face barely visible behind the micros
Anonymous povThe fallout of what was once considered a "perfect" marriage in the public eye was swift, it was fast, and it was brutal. It didn’t matter that Shane and Isla hadn't filed for divorce just yet; the damage was already done. The whispers behind Isla’s back were impossible to ignore. Every time she walked down the street, she could feel the weight of the side-eyes, the looks of disgust that followed her wherever she went. People who used to smile at her now turned their faces away as if she had some contagious disease. There was no pretending anymore. Her life, the life she had worked so hard to build, was no longer hers.Shane had taken the children, all three of them, and left. He moved in with his parents, the door slamming shut on their family’s supposed unity. He was beyond angry, livid that Isla had betrayed him. How could she? How could the woman he had been with since he was sixteen years old suddenly turn her back on him like that? He felt betrayed, humiliated.Sad
Sade’s POVThe block party was supposed to be fun, a time for laughter and memories, the kind of event that defined summer in the neighborhood. Kids running wild, their laughter echoing in the streets, the smell of grilled food wafting through the air, and the community coming together to celebrate life.But something felt wrong.It wasn’t obvious at first, but I could feel it, like a storm cloud lingering on the horizon. It started with Isla. She wasn’t smiling like she usually did. Not genuinely, anyway. She was laughing, but it was empty, like she was pretending to fit in. She would dance with the others, but her movements were robotic, stiff, as though she was somewhere else.Then there was Madison. My sister, always so composed, always so strong. But tonight? She wasn’t the same. Her eyes kept darting to our mom, as if searching for something, some answer she hadn’t found. And when she did meet my gaze, her expression was guarded, like she was keeping a secret, a painful one, and
Sadé’s POVThe block was lit.Essex had been completely shut down, and people from up and down the street filled every available inch of space. No cars lined the curbs; instead, the Chicago Police Department had blocked off the entire area, forcing everyone to park on nearby streets. Marco’s SUV sat a few blocks away, but Sadé’s Audi was right there in the driveway, covered in deep tints. The DJ had the speakers thumping, jumping from old school bangers to the latest hits, and the smell of barbecue thickened the air.Coolers were lined up along the driveway, packed with drinks. Kids ran wild between the bounce houses, water slides, and sidewalk games, and the playpen had been set up for the babies. Sadé’s whole family was here. Marco’s whole family was here. Everybody’s family was here. It was one of those days where the South Side felt like home in the best way.But they were running low on ice.She found Marco standing near the grill, laughing with Derek. “Hey, we’re running out of