Survivor

Positive

Welcome to one of the most dangerous towns, of the somehow beautiful city of New Orleans, Louisiana. Even with all the violent crimes, the city in whole just makes you fall in love. The liveliness in downtown, people partying having a good time, seeing the French quarter, all the parades, Mardi gras, it was the best place to be... when it isn't.
I am Kambria Maja Nadiya Shore. My mother, Kacey, always told me, she was very specific about picking my name.

My first name means, the people. My two middle names, first one meaning, great mother, and the second one meaning hope.

She said she new the moment I was born that I do something big. I was born in South Carolina, but I have lived here, in the seventh ward of NOLA, for about 5 years. Not consistently though. From ages 6 to 10, we were here every holiday and every single summer, the whole summer, to spend time with what is now my family. My mom and I permanently moved here when I was 11. I am now 13.

• • •

Loud music blast through the speakers in the living room. The air is filled with smoke, and around every corner you smell liquor.

"Bria!"

It sounds like someone called my name. Unsure due to the music being so loud, I ignore it.

My brother Zander is turning 19 today so the house is filled with people coming in and out.
I live with him and my other step brothers Marc, 31, the oldest, and Damian, 12, the youngest boy. Then there is my step sister Alexis who is 13. Me and her are the same age. Zander, Damian and Alexis have a different mom from Marc but share the same dad as him. Marc is black and Damian, Alexis, and Zander are mixed, their mom is white like my mom, but their mom lives in South Carolina where I came from. Their dad, Robert (Rob) King, got together with my mom when I was 6. My mom and stepdad moved out to a new house about a year ago and I stayed behind... For many reasons.

This house belongs to Marc now.

"Bria I know you heard me callin' ya name." Zander spits out, as he opens my bedroom door making his way into my room.

"Ew what the fuck is wrong with you?" I laugh a little as he breaks a drunken fall by grabbing my door. It sways a little, his body swaying with it. I laugh harder putting my flat iron down walking to him. "Are you good?" I ask, holding his shoulder to keep him steady.

"I'm good. There someone here to see you." he laughs out.

"Someone here? To see me? It's not my birthday." I say curiously, with a little sarcasm at the end.

"Yeah for you, and Marc asked was you drinkin' or wassup so he know what to do." He says.

"Yeah I am, just not a lot. I will be smoking more." I say walking back over to turn my flat iron off and checking my hair in the mirror to make sure it looks up to my standards.

"Ight, bet." He begins to grab the door handle to close my door as he makes his way out.

"Hey." I call after him, he peeps his head through the small opening of the door. "Who is here to see me?" I ask, trying to figure it out.

"You'll see when you come out." He says closing my door and walking down the hall to return to his party.

I grab my phone and bowl and head out to the living room. I hear chatter and loud laughter as I enter the room.

"Oh woah, so nice of you to join us." Marc says smiling at me.

"Oh hush, between school and you all, I got to get some rest." I say.

"Man, school don't start for a few more weeks. You got plenty of time to rest." He assures me.

"Yeah I bet I do." I say, setting my things down on the coffee table. I look up hearing the screen door creak open as someone walks in the front door.