𝐃𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐒.

p.

"You understand why I'm having to do this, right?" My mother had asked me, taking a break from lifting the boxes inside the van. She joined me with a bottle of water in her hand, sweat glistening at her forehead. I didn't hesitate to take a seat with her - my back had been hollering anyway. "It's new opportunities where you would least expect for them to be, although it's your senior year.."

I could tell she was about to go on the same rant for pulling me out of school during the most important year. The year where I would go to prom, I would make life changing mistakes and of course, graduate. "Mom," I interrupted her after another chug of the water bottle. A corner of it was left. "June might be tripping, because you know she's going to cry about Yaseen," My mother shook her head immediately after.

"She ain't seeing him anymore," My mother said, tossing her bottle into the trash. She swung her legs before the two of us rejoiced in mutual laughter. June constantly broke hearts and she had no intention of taking accountability for it. Almost as if on cue, June came from the garage with the last of her belongings from our room, dropping them on the garage floor with a mug.

"I'm sweating out my lace for y'all to be taking a water break?" She said as I tossed a water bottle in her direction.

"Have Yaseen my box for the bedroom?" I asked, knowing good and damn well that I was sitting in front of the box. June rolled her eyes at my pun, searching for something in sight to throw but failing to find anything. Me and my mother bounced against each other in silent, wheezed laughter and she stood there unamused.

"This time it wasn't my fault," She said, downing her water bottle and taking a seat between the two of us at the back of the moving van. Conversation was never a struggle between my sister and my mother, but in the back of my mind I was nervous about moving to a new place. A new place meant new friends to make, new rules to grow accustomed to and more new things. I was fine with settling where we were in Washington, but mother and her job opportunities. "...He had the nerve to say he wanted me to keep my virginity with him before I left."

"Chile," My mother said, turning her head as if it was none of her business. To most Moms, it wouldn't be their business, but the relationship we had with our Mom was completely different. No, she wasn't our friend, but she was all we had.

"That's enough of that conversation for me, I'm going to finish getting the boxes down here." I said as I reached into the fanny-pack to pull out a pair of AirPods. I pulled my phone out next to get some music going. The quicker we packed up and left, the faster we could say goodbye.

—
*excuse all mistakes!
i am too excited for this book. like, pumped. ✨
vote counts will start after the first few chapters..
gotta see who all rocking w me & whatnot.
— sdh 🧍🏽‍♀️❤️