WU
Pressing the enter button on my laptop, i finally looked to the screen. My palms brushed against my neck, relieving the aches as i cracked them.
I finally turned, to see Jacqueline slumped on the couch and then suddenly some light hit my face. My pupils dilated as i looked away. I realized for more than twelve hours, my eyes had been fixated on the monitor, trying to conclude a chapter.
The first chapter.
And it was on reading the last word that the radiance of the sun hit my eyes as the drapes swung open. I had seen Jacqueline on the couch a second ago so i knew exactly who it was.
“Wu” She called.
“Jade” I responded, still shielding my eyes as i tried to balance on my feet. “I didn’t know when you came in” I said and she scoffed. “Not long ago, i didn’t want to disturb you. The club was not so busy but i stayed back to help Jones with a few things” She tied the curtains, not bo
AALIYAHFOUR MONTHS LATER.Everything had changed. With my parents by my left and Dele sitting close to me on the hospital bed. I could hear my slow groans as i was intubated.But alas, my eyes were open and i could see Leila walking slowly towards me with Wu beside her and the only question asides who wouldn't have thought——Was the inevitable one of whether or not i was willing to let go. But the choice was not up to me.If not, maybe i would have chosen to stay and then my eyes fell her. With whom i shared so much of a striking resemblance with. Who would've thought?That was the prevailing question, surprisingly.NOWMy ears trailed every other letter that followed. Every word and every requirement. My eyes, doubled by a squared glasses had known no rest for the past ten hours. And then for once—
AUTHOR's NOTE.MARIAWith Maria battling metastatic cancer and her son battling out his self identity, these are just two of the many people that appear to be further from where they thought they will end up.They don't know where they'll end up, but one could only hope it's back where the family belongs.Miami. But how will she come to terms to leaving her mother, perhaps for a long time this time and Alejandro, intentional this time. And does she still have a story, yet unfolded with Marc? Who knows-AALIYAHAaliyah is dumbstruck when someone from her past shows up on her front porch. But what scares her the most is how and Why her longlost sister is here, in Miami. How will her parents take it——and how far is she herself, from being one. In the coming chapters, she explores deeply into family and origin but like they say, don't go digging in deep places because
JACQUELINENOWI fell to the ground. I was pushed, with my hands tied and a clothe around my eyes to prevent me from seeing where exactly i was. As i reached the ground, it felt heated like there was some sort of fire and i could instantly hear the sound of a man——as if he was on a call.I struggled to stand immediately at the sense of being let go off and i realized my legs weren't tied. Perhaps that was the point, i could move but i couldn't see but somehow i couldn't walk. It's like seeing the world but not being able to touch it.Knowing you have something, but not being able to reach it. And it was more torture as i kept stumbling on little things until i couldn't stand anymore. I could not even use my hands as any sort of direction, they were tied. And as i laid on the ground, i had wandered what exactly happened.I had wandere
WUIn Miami, chances are you've witnessed a drug transaction, you have sold or bought drugs. We were known for that, when we weren't working——we were having fun. And that meant drugs, the late night parties, wine and strippers. It was no doubt that we knew how to have fun. Because we could spend the whole day working tiring jobs and that was our breathing space. Our space.And with the drugs. Came the luxury. Miami was luxurious and extravagant and ostentatious. Wu was about about to tap into both.TWO MONTHS AGOWUI made my way through the door, i had shown up barely hours ago after figuring out the key to my grandmother's safe. In my bag was alot of dollars on my first withdrawal, it felt like a treat——after a long day trying to prove it was mine. I was abit tipped off that they had an idea it was drug money, perhaps illegal money especially by one that seemed
AALIYAHMeanwhile, Aaliyah hadn't moved. She wanted to so badly meet up with Wu because of Jacqueline but then she was shocked by her sister——and her sudden appearance.Ayeesha had shown up after nineteen years or more, pulling her in for a lasting hug as she just dropped a weighty bag to the ground. Just one.Aaliyah was perplexed, not even hugging back, she was in utter shock as she made contact with Dele."Wha—" Her attempt to speak had failed. Words even had failed her. Aaliyah as she pulled her away, she had tears shimmer in her eyes before she looked away. "Sister" Ayeesha echoed, sniffling also she raised her hands to Aaliyah's cheeks.She backed off, surprised as Ayeesha slouched her shoulders and finally she could speak. She had opened her lips so wide as if she was about to deliver a powerful monologue but all that came out
AALIYAHFor almost all the girls, twenty years ago held some event, something grave and not often a good thing. For Wu, she lost her parents in the car crash twenty years ago, and for Maria, she struggled with abuse in the hands of her father and his friends——sexual. Jacqueline was alright, having no idea that in a few more years, she would be blamed for her parent's death and go to jail on her eighteenth birthday. How i wished she had known.How i wish we all could know when something was about to go wrong, asides a gut feeling. Perhaps something more elaborate and clear. Like Aal also around twenty years ago, what if she had known the night she had gone to bed would be the last she would see Ayeesha. That she would be gone by morning and would have her parents lie about it.All these events, all a score years away.TWENTY YEARS AGO
MARIAMaria felt a sting in her heart as she looked into the mirror. Her eyes were sour and her face, crimson. Her hands obsessively pulled her hair. It had been six weeks since she had started chemotherapy and she had to go in today, the day she dreaded——of which her fate was to be decided. Whether or not the treatment was working. And whether it was all worth it. She slowly pulled out her hair as she wandered, who she'll become without it.She was latinx and she had admired her hair growing up, it would be weird seeing how much worth your hair added and now, it was only Maria that could understand that pain. She could walking on the street of Miami, lifting her shoulders to the never ending compliments of her curls, her hair.What was she now, that she had to wear a scarf or perhaps she would need to cut it herself. She heaved a deep breathe, before looking back at her mother who had opened the door slightly—
~Sexuality.Your sexuality can play an important role in your identity. It often refers to a person's sexual orientation or preference. Rather than just the need to reproduce. Your sexual orientation is who you are attracted to——emotionally, mentally, and physically attracted to. It is the most important form of human emotional expression and these deep connections to one another. And exploring it is only as natural and safe.Its diverse and personal and sometimes scary. Scary in the sense that you cannot change it, it changes you and who you thought you were. But then what if you, yourself don't know who you are?Or what even is this thing called sexuality. All you'll feel is scared, and as for Mateo. He was, alot especially after his grandmother's words in the car.And the potential fear in his mother's eyes. All he was, was scared and alone. And perplexed on what ever he felt f