𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐒𝐎

one

SANNIYA JALIYAH MALONEÈ
📍alabama | 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 22𝘯𝘥, 2023
'this is not my life, it's just a fond farewell to a freind' - SEIGFRIED, FRANK OCEAN

sanniya sat in the back seat of her mother's old, silver honda civic, her head leaned against the window as they drove along the winding country roads of alabama. it had only been two weeks since they moved from their old home in new york, and everything here still felt very strange. the skies were wider, the air smelled different, and the rolling hills stretched out for miles—nothing like the dense city streets and crowded buildings she'd grown up with.

sanniya's mother, jasmine, seemed to be adjusting much better than her daughter. jasmine had lived in alabama years ago, before sanniya was born, and she was excited to be back in a place that reminded her of home. but for sanniya, alabama might as well have been another planet. she missed her friends, her school, and the constant hum of the city. here, it was quiet—almost too quiet—and sanniya had yet to make any friends. the move had been hard on her, and while she tried not to show it, Jasmine could tell that her daughter was struggling.

"you're going to love kinigra," jasmine said, glancing at Sanniya in the rearview mirror. "she's been like a sister to me ever since we were kids. we used to spend summers together, and she was always the fun one. you'll see. i think you'll like her too."

sanniya didn't respond, her eyes still fixed on the blur of trees passing by. she wasn't sure if she'd like kinigra, or anyone for that matter. all she wanted was to go back to new york and pretend this whole move had never happened.

jasmine sighed softly and turned her attention back to the road. she knew sanniya was having a hard time, but she hoped that meeting kinigra might help. kinigra had a step-daughter around sanniya's age, and maybe, just maybe, the two girls could hit it off. jasmine had always admired Kinigra's energy and her ability to make people feel at ease. if anyone could help sanniya feel more at home here, it was her old friend.

the sun was beginning to set when they finally pulled up to kinigra's house. jasmine smiled as they parked in the driveway, her memories of summer days spent running through the fields flooding back to her.

"come on, sanniya. we're here," jasmine said, stepping out of the car.

sanniya hesitated for a moment before unbuckling her seatbelt and following her mother. as they approached the front porch, the door swung open, and a tall, striking woman with deep brown skin and long braids stepped out, her face lighting up with a wide smile.

"jasmine!" kinigra called out, rushing down the steps to hug her friend. "it's been way too long!" sanniya just stood there watching the two have a heartfelt interaction.

jasmine laughed as she embraced kinigra. "i know! it feels like a lifetime."

kinigra pulled back and turned her gaze toward Sanniya, her smile softening. "and you must be sanniya! look how grown you are!" she exclaimed, though this was the first time she was meeting sanniya. still, her warmth was palpable, and it made sanniya feel just a little less guarded.

"hi," sanniya said quietly, managing a small smile.

"come on inside, both of you. dinner's just about ready, and i made enough to feed an army," kinigra said, waving them toward the house.

inside, the smell of baked chicken, cornbread, and collard greens filled the air. sanniya's stomach growled despite her nerves, and she realized she hadn't eaten much all day. as they walked into the living room, a girl about sanniya's age appeared from the hallway, her eyes widening as she saw the guests.

"mom, is this them?" the girl asked, looking from jasmine to sanniya.

"yes, this is jasmine, and that's sanniya," kinigra replied. "sanniya, this is my step-daughter, ari."

ari had the same warm smile as her mother, and sanniya couldn't help but notice the glint of curiosity in her eyes. ari's hair was pulled back into neat locs, and she wore a pair of jeans and a graphic t-shirt that had some kind of band logo on it. she seemed nice enough, but sanniya was still cautious. it wasn't like her to make friends easily, and after the move, she wasn't sure if she even wanted to try.

"hey," ari said, giving sanniya a small wave.

"hi," sanniya replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"why don't you two go outside with the others, and get to know each other while we finish up in here?" kinigra suggested. "dinner will be ready soon."

amara nodded and motioned for sanniya to follow her. they stepped out onto the porch and down into the yard, where all the other kids were, this made sanniya feel so alwaed while everyone just stared at her, while sanniya and ari walked into the backyard.

"guys this is my... cousin sanniya, she just moved here from new york." ari introduced sanniya to all the teenagers in the backyard.

a few hours later, sanniya and the other teens were all eating kinigra's amazing food, and getting to know more about sanniya.

sanniya for the first time since moving, didn't feel like an outsider and was actually making friends.

[ UNEDITED ]