Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
2023, February 23 5:00 pm
📍London
✦✦
Maria was laying on her bed, phone balanced in her hand as she stared up at the ceiling. The last messages from Ddot sat on her screen, each one so short and chill like he hadn't thought twice before sending them. Still, her heart raced. It had been a while since she'd actually talked to him face to face. She wanted to reach out, just to feel a little less alone, but she wasn't sure what she'd even say.
before she could second guess herself, her finger hovered and tapped FaceTime. The screen went dark, and then Ddot's face popped up, a mix of surprise and that calm, unbothered look he never had.
"Yo," he said, raising an eyebrow. He looked like he hadn't changed much—same hoodie, same laid back vibe.
"Hey," she replied, voice coming out softer than she wanted. She cleared her throat. "Just... felt like it's been forever since we talked like this."
he nodded, his expression unreadable. "Fr guess you got all famous on me, huh?"
she smiled a bit, "I mean, barely.... just tryin to do my thing out here. But it's not like I forgot yall."
"nah, I getchu," he said, leaning back. "London's a whole different world from here. hows it feelin?"
she shrugged, looking away. "Its... you know its aight. cant lie, though, I miss home, you guys, and the city. Sometimes it don feel real.
he was quiet for a second, watching her. "You ever think bout comin back?"
she paused, not really expecting that question. "I mean... yeah, but its complicated... you know my mom and all that went down. She wanted me outta here, said it was for the best."
"but wait do you think it was for the best?" he said giving her a look.
"look—" "nah i want you to be fr wit me rn, amari did you wanna leave us?" he cut her off.
she sighed not wanting this to end bad, "do i wanted to leave you guys? nigga is you serious, the last thing i wanted was to stay away from yall, matter of fact i neva even thought of it. that woman fuckin hated me, she waited till somethin to happen so she uses that as an excuse to send me away" maria said getting teary, everytime she talks about her birthgiver she ends up crying.
ddot went silent, he knew he shouldnt have asked that but he deeply wanted answers he had many more questions in his head but he was holding himself.
there was a long pause, and she thought he was gonna end the call, but then he asked, "You been good, though?"
maria hesitated, feeling a lump form in her throat. the truth was, she hadnt been all that good. there were days when the weight of everything felt too heavy—her dad, Notti, the way she'd left everything behind.
"some days, yeah" she said finally. "other days, it's like... like all this stuff from back home follows me. I think Im coo nd all, then something hits me, and its like Im right back there.
ddot just nodded slowly, they sat there in silence for a bit, just looking at each other. She thought about all the nights they'd spent out with friends, all the memories that felt so far away now. It was strange seeing him on a screen, like he was a part of her past that she could never really go back to.
she analyzed his face, he really grew up, she would never have thought that her and ddot would grow up away from each other.
"anyway," she said, breaking the silence. "it was nice talkin to you again d good night"
"goodnight amar sleep good gangsta" he said smiling making her crack a wide smile too.
"aight stay safe d love you"
"always" he gave her a nod and hung up, his face disappearing from the screen.
maria let the phone drop beside her, staring at the ceiling again. the call had only made her feel farther from home, her memories heavier, but somehow, she also felt... grounded. like, no matter how far she went, pieces of home would always find a way to reach her.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
