{1} 𝐁𝐔𝐋𝐋𝐒𝐄𝐘𝐄 | p.jackson

𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘶𝘦

( a beginning )

THE FINAL STRAW FOR NIA KAMARIA was her mother yelling at her because of something that had happened at her school.

Now, this wasn't an unusual experience for Nia. The moment that she was born, she was always in trouble with her mother for one thing or another.

That day, she'd sworn to all her classmates that a man with one eye had followed her on the playground yesterday. The biggest kid, Hunter, hadn't believed her and shoved her roughly on the ground.

Naturally, the seven-year-old had gotten mad and something happened that she wasn't able to explain.

Suddenly, a small bird with a sharp beak flew at Hunter and started pecking relentlessly at him, causing Hunter to flap his arms around to try and get the bird to leave him alone. Then another bird joined. . . then another. . . then another. . . and before anyone knew it, a whole flock of birds had joined Hunter was left stumbling around the playground crying his eyes out.

It was absolutely hilarious, but when the teachers came, everyone had pointed at Nia. Which led to the principal's office, which led to her mother yelling at her.

"Really, Nia? Again? This was the seventh school!" Diana Kamaria had yelled at her once they were home.

"Mama, it's not my fault! The one-eyed man—"

"Stop it, Nia! Stop it with all these made-up monsters!" Diana was livid. She had had a horrible day at the animal hospital where she was a veterinarian — some racist, sexist pig had said some awful shit to her; she hadn't eaten breakfast because Nia had woken up late ( and in turn, she was late for work ); she couldn't even get her coffee because the machine was broken; and now, on top of it all, she had to find a new school for her daughter. It was not a good day.

"Mama, I'm telling the truth! Dylan—"

"Nia! That's enough! God, I'm so sick of you! Constantly with the monsters and the stories! Why can't you just be like every other seven-year-old in the world? Why can't you just be normal? I wish I never had to deal with you!" Of course, Diana didn't mean what she had said. In fact, she would've given anything to take it back — for more reasons than one. But she had to do it. She had no choice.

Diana Kamaria had grown up in a house with parents who cared more about their jobs than her; parents who hadn't even bothered to show up to her college graduation. She had grown up in a house where she had to earn her keep, never complain, and always be the best at everything, never seeming to be deserving of her parent's approval or praise. And seeing her daughter be the little troublemaking kid that Diana never got to be sparked something in the young single mom.

Something awful and wicked and horrible.

But Nia didn't know all that. All that Nia saw was her mother — the person she loved and adored more than anyone in the world — basically wishing that she had never had her.

And that hurt.

Nia's eyes welled up and her bottom lip wobbled. Then, she sniffed, got rid of the tears, and ran out of her mother's small apartment, her shiny, silver backpack still on her back.

Because Nia made a decision right then and there that she was never going to be weak again.

Because she knew that she was never going to give anyone the satisfaction of her tears.

Because she was Nia Marie Kamaria. 

She didn't take shit from anybody, no matter who they were. And so, from that point on, Nia decided that she was always going to be brave. No matter what.

Diana called her name, but Nia ignored her, instead choosing to run as fast as she could, with no intentions of going back.

hello, all who have chosen this book and have decided to give it a try! if you're feeling a bit iffy, stick around for at least a little — i promise it'll get better!