JACQUELINE
FEW MONTHS BACK
"Harry, come on-" I groaned, my arms in the air as i yawned, turning my face away from the camera.
"I'm terrible, I'm just waking up-" I rubbed around my eyes as he pulled away the covers, climbing on top of me with the camera in his hands.
"Which makes you more beautiful. Natural is beautiful" He said, placing soft kisses down my neck and i scoffed, pushing him to fall on the other side.
"I told you, i don't cheesy. They make me cringe" I said, without resisting the smile that crept to my lips.
He shut the camera close before placing it unto the table and climbing back unto me.
"I need to get to work-" I mumbled before he shut me up with a kiss that slowly went down my torso.
"Oh-"
****
I peered from behind the fenc
AALIYAH"Ah-" I groaned as i struggled to sit, my legs swinging from the edge of the bed, after which i sighed."You don't need to stress yourself honey" My mother's hands dug into my messy curls as i stood."You still need some rest" She said, her hands trialing down my bony cheeks and across my neck."I can't stay here all da-" I was interrupted by a cough as i waved it off, making my way to the bathroom.For a moment, i stared at the back of my palms, with a scar from the intravenous and i looked to the mirror before brushing my hair to side with a sigh.I was so happy i didn't get to loose my hair but some times, i wondered if cancer was somewhat better-either way, there wasn't so much difference, with the timeline or the prognosis or the pills.And the regular hospital visi
WUTWO WEEKS LATERThere was something about he air, it was clearer and the pillows were softer and life, was soon, easier.I felt a palm clenched around mine as i slowly parted my eyes, to see Aaliyah, seated in a chair beside me."Hello-" She greeted before brushing my hair behind my ears and a smile crept to my lips as i turned.I t was always weird to see her without her hijab but that wasn't the only thing different, i looked around-and i was home."You sleep like a log-" She teased as i managed to regulate my thumping heart beat while i sat up."It's okay now. You're home now" She whispered."They have Albert in custody and he's confessed to all of it-" "Well, Paul first did it" Jacqueline added as she flashed a smile before w
WUI put up my grey hoodie that managed to shield a side of my face as i also pocketed my gloved hands.I took in a deep breath before crossing over the road and towards a fence with a metal gate from which was guarded by a black American with tattoos imprinted all over his face.He adjusted on sighting me, in a way that pushed forward his broadened muscled chest before he cleared his throat. I just stood there before he spoke."What do you want?" His words came masked in both this pungent cigarette smell and his thick African accent and then i snapped out of all the thinking."Hey. Wu" It took a while to realize how effeminate my voice compared to his and he looked around."I came alone. I need to see blackeye" I said before suddenly a piece of clothe enveloped my sight and then my face as I felt my legs being f
WUThe car pulled over as i looked to the address on that paper in my scribbled handwriting and taking in a deep sigh, i slowly stepped unto the concrete pavement-taking a moment to admire the even lawns and all the flowers on the porch and then around the serene environment before i walked to the door.I fidgeted around the steps, knowing that entering that door, was in some way going to change my life, if at least she could at least piece together for me.And then in a swift fashion i knocked on the door before turning around,-and if i had kept on walking before she came through the door, i don't think i would have ever gotten the answers i sought."Hey" Her voice called, steps away as i turned around the woman that stood on her porch. "Joanne?"She hesitantly nodded, closing the door behind as she arched her brows. "I alread
AALIYAHIn that moment when her door had unlocked and she jogged towards the driveway in her sweatpants, i came out of the car to the displeasure on her face."Look, I'm sor-" I started, barely getting enough to time to shut the car door befshe waved me off with her palms. "Aaliyah, what are you doi-" I sighed."No. Please. Listen to me. I was wrong to leave earlier because we're friends-" I said, stepping close enough to see her signature eye roll. "Apparently, friends that betray each other-" She muttered under her breath."No. We're sisters and I can see that you're hurting and you're not angry with me, Wu" I literally pointed out."I'm not going to leave no matter how pissed or angry you are. After all, i got my fair share of incarceration. I had to live with the guilt of what i had done" I added."And yet, all i held unto
MARIAStrapping the last lace around my shoes, i looked into Tessa's green eyes before she hopped out from the back of the van--leaving us to trek a distance towards the building."Approach with caution, two men approaching from the back exit of the building-" The connecting ear pods rang in my ears the sound of Frederick's voice.And i looked to Tessa for a second time before halting beneath the fence. "Be relaxed, they can smell fear-""Yo. Private property. Night club's not open till nine-" A man with boldened tattoos on his face approached us, leaving me to unconsciously step back."No. I need drugs" Tessa whispered, under her breath and he scoffed loudly. "What?" He asked."I know about the drugs. I'm a dealer" She added, leaving him slightly threatened with this information as he looked to one of th
JACQUELINEIt wasn't long since i had seen Wu like this, in bed and her arms beside her with her eyes closed-that was until she did open her eyes and was sucked back into this reality and i just smiled to her."Jacqueline" She called and i nodded, taking her hand into mine as i nodded. "Where's Maria?" She asked."I'm right here" Maria stood from the chair before she walked to the other side of her bed. "And Aaliyah?"I shook my head as i look to her text on my phone.Aal: I'm sorry. Still waiting on Albert to speak.I sighed, knowing how much Wu wanted her, especially her to be here when she did wake up."Did they catch him? Black-eye?" She turned to Maria before looking to the few agents that still loitered around her room, waiting for her statement.And i nodded, looking to the news o
ALBERTMORE THAN FIVE DECADES AGOMy shirt tucked into my high trousers that passed over my waist, yet i still stared into the mirror with satisfaction as my mother called out my name."Ronald!"She yelled repeatedly as though she was a mile away, her high pitched voice somehow managing to startle me as i adjusted the bow tie around my collars.I picked up my bag and hung it on my shoulders, on only a strap of my old school suspenders before i rushed down the stairs. "I'm coming-" I responded.The sole of my shoe slapped against the wooden floors as i hastily walked towards the kitchen and right into the pungent puff from my father's cigarette as his feet across the chairs brushed against mine.His silent glare pierced in judgment as he assessed my clothes from my hat to my oiled school shoes.