"Jay...we good?" I asked, needing to know.
"Yeah, we good," she replied casually.
"What that mean though?" I pressed, wanting clarity.
She sighed, putting her spoon down. "We cool, we friends... no drama, no hard feelings. But since that's your girl...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK DECEMBER 26, 2023
"BITCH WE OUTSIDE TONIGHT!" Fatima yelled as she twerked on my head as I taped this last box.
"Girl, you and Kimbella supposed to be helping me! You know I gotta be out of this apartment tomorrow," I huffed, giving a side-eye. "My mom got me moving all the way to Atlanta. Like, I don't understand... She passed away, but why I gotta leave New York? This all I know... shit crazy." I tried to take the frown off my face, but it wouldn't budge.
Bella and Tima both went silent; they didn't know what to say. They knew I didn't want to leave New York. Sure, they were out in Atlanta, so it wasn't like I would be alone... but what's a New York girl like me supposed to do out there? I don't have a car. I take the bus and subway and walk if necessary.
"...Well, umm, did you read the envelopes your mom left you? Maybe there's some information there about why she wouldn't let you keep this apartment," Kimmy said softly. She knows my mother's death is a touchy subject since I didn't even see it coming.
My mom made sure school was my first priority. She wanted the best for me and sacrificed a lot just for me to be where I am now. I have three semesters left before I graduate, and I plan to make her proud. I know she's looking down at me and protecting me every day. My mom knows who she raised. I let out a small laugh.
"Jas, you crazy as hell. Why you laughing?" Tima asked, looking at me concerned. She and Kim knew all too well about that other side I work very hard to keep contained.
"Ray, chill on me. I laughed 'cause of something I was thinking, nothing crazy. But nah, Kim, I only read the first one. All it had was an address, keys, and her telling me to make her proud, saying she knows I'll thrive anywhere. She said to leave everything except my clothes and important stuff, start fresh. Part of me feels like she said that 'cause she knew I wouldn't give Atlanta a fair chance if I held on to too much," I said, thinking about the three envelopes she left me.
"You ain't gonna open up the other two? Never know what's inside, girl... might be some shmoney! You going to a whole other state bitch," Tima said, lighting the blunt she had sitting on the counter. "Smoke this, you need it," she stated, passing it to me.
"Thank ya kindly," I said, taking the blunt and inhaling deeply, letting the smoke fill my lungs.
"Pretty girls luh to smoke!" Kim yelled, sticking her tongue out. I laughed, coughing as the smoke escaped my mouth.
"But for real, since y'all drove out here... how all my stuff fitting in the car?" I asked, taking another pull before passing it to Tima.
"Oh, we gonna ship the boxes out early tomorrow and do express or overnight delivery. We'll take your suitcases with us and the little stuff you have, like your laptop and shit," Tima said before inhaling. I nodded, relieved.
