Crowns & Crystals

Alone Again, Naturally..

"I know a place (ooh)

I know a place we can go

where everyone gonna lay down their weapon

lay down their weapon

just give me trust and watch what'll happen

cause i know

i know a place we can run " -muna

Music blared through my room as I sang and danced in front of the mirror, giving myself my own private concert. It was seven o'clock and classes didn't start until 9:00 am, which meant I had a little extra time to have some fun.

Through the large window, the sunrise cast my room in a beautiful light and gave my bright white walls a warm orange glow. My queen size bed sat abandoned in the middle of the room, covered in a mess of tangled sheets and discarded clothes.

I sat down in front of my vanity mirror and ran a brush through my hair before I began to section it. I decided to do two simple braids that started at my temples and then tie them in the back with a hair tie. Once I was satisfied with the braids, I used my hair curler to add some curls to the ends of my hair. As the sunlight poured in through the window, the braids could be seen clearly in my black hair. My hair had been black for as long as I could remember, but it was the longest it had ever been now. It sat just below my bra and was the perfect length to style.

I grinned at my reflection and turned back to the abandoned pile of clothes I had thrown on the bed. I still needed to pick an outfit. I typically wore black. In fact, I only owned black clothing. I glanced at my closet again and frowned. Every item was black.

Everyone always asked why I chose black, but the truth is I had no idea either. Ever since I was little I had been drawn to the colour black. My sister, Amala, would joke that I was adopted from the Addams Family, and sometimes I wished I was.

I walked to my bed and rifled through the clothes there before settling on my favourite pair of faded black jeans. I pulled them on and smiled at the way they hugged my curves perfectly. I danced to the music as I moved to the closet. As one song ended and another began I spotted a cute sweater top I hadn't worn in a while. Tugging it off the hanger and over my head, I swayed back to my vanity to change the song. A loud knock sounded at the door as I poked my head through the neck hole of the sweater.

"Yes?" I called out over the music, thinking it was my mother coming to tell me something. Instead of an answer, another knock landed on the door. Slightly annoyed, I paused the music. "What is it, mother?"

"We both know I'm way better looking than Dalya," a male voice answered as the door opened. My irritation disappeared at the sound of his voice and I couldn't help the smile that took over my face.

"Ahh, my favourite pain in the ass!" I joked, happy to see my best friend. I sat back down at the vanity and peered at him through the mirror. "I thought my mother had left already, so how did you get in?"

Kiaran Collins was a beautiful human specimen. Always wearing earth tones, he was classy with a bit of spice. His family had moved into the neighbourhood eleven years ago. I had been painting in the garden when he strolled over. He'd observed me for a few moments before telling me that he couldn't understand my painting and therefore it was weird. I informed him that the reason he couldn't understand it was because boys were stupid. We'd been inseparable ever since.

"I know where the spare key is," Kiaran reminded me, dropping his bag next to my bed. He pushed aside the pile of clothes before laying down, his head resting on my pillow. "But no, your mom hasn't left. She answered the door when I knocked, and you'll never believe this."