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—

WUThe wind was so satisfying to Wu. Blowing across her face and swaying her short hair to the sides. She had numbed the noises from the construction——she stood around, a green vest over her simple large tshirt with an oversized jumpsuit. She looked directly at them, breaking through a part of the walls of Jones'. She couldn't believe it, she couldn't also believe that the leader of a drug gang already had an office in the yet to be completed building.No matter how fast he hastened it, it was left down to how much work the workers could do especially through a slowly lifting pandemic. Wu had to send the girl's packing, even Jade as she closed down Jones' for weeks that would transgress into months.Till it would eventually be ready. Then suddenly, she pulled out her earplugs as if someone had called her. No one had but it was fun seeing her turn around with a questioning expression on her face."D

AALIYAH I passed a long breath, holding unto the handle of the cream colored door. My eyes were fixed into theirs, both my mother and father at the door. My mom in her native iro and buba and my dad, in a simple kaftan made shirt, the origin of its color being the famous tie and dye. But in that moment, i could honestly care less——i lifted my feet to the side, making room for them to enter, with my mum was an extra bag as if ready to stay the night which was quite ironical. They were not here to stay at all. And upon entering into the door and turning to the side, they were met with her. Like a well planned revelation, they halted in their steps immediately. My father freezing whilst my mother slowly let go of the bags in her hands.She recognized her immediately, her name passing so smoothly from her lips like it never left her mind. Like she never left her mind. "Ayeesha"

MARIA*“Your father and Toni would soon be here. I just got off the phone with him” I sat in the chair, reaching across for the seasoning for the rice. He walked to me, with the tablet in his hands.“Toni would be here in minutes” He said before handing his phone to me. “That’s Wu, she wants to speak to you” He said and i arched my brows.“You speak to Wu?” I said in a questioning tone as i slid to answer to video call. Her hair was messy like she had just woken and i pointed it out with a laugh.“I just woke up and i had to wish him” She said and i rolled my eyes. “What are you doing with my son?” I teases and she scoffed.“Shut the fuck up” She said as we shared a laughter before she asked. “Are you okay?” And i sighed, nodding positively like it wasn’t just me that had a mental breakdown in my mother’s hands.And she smiled widely. “I have to get to the club in

JACQUELINE “The loss of a someone close to us is perhaps one of the deepest and most sensitive we will ever come to experience. It can be difficult to process these emotions and work through the stages of grief” Jacq had started out, calm as if she’d gotten her emotions in check. You could hardly believe that she was the same one that broke out in tears a while ago.She cleared her throat, staring Wu in the eyes, who had nodded to give her a sort of encouragement. She then breathed heavily before she carried on.“To say Aaliyah was selfless would be an understatement— She was more and to a lot of us, even more. She tried her best to brighten our lives even when she was living in the dark” She paused.Jacqueline had read all the articles to prevent her from crying when she passed the eulogy. She had read about remembering to breathe, eating before she spoke and having