Zurianne never imagined that saving her mother's life would cost her own freedom. Forced into an arranged marriage with Christopher Whyte the infamous Jamaican Don feared by many,she braces herself for a life of cold stares and ruthless commands. Bu...
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The door clicked softly behind me as I stepped into my apartment, the quiet almost foreign after days in the sterile hospital halls. The air smelled faintly of old paint and dust, untouched since I'd been gone.
I dropped my bag by the door and took a deep breath. This space—my space—felt different now. Empty in a way that echoed the hollowness inside me. But it was mine. Mine to fix, to heal, to build anew.
Without thinking too much, I rolled up my sleeves and started clearing. The kitchen counters, the living room floor, every corner that held memories I wasn't ready for. I moved the sofa away from the wall, shifted the small coffee table to the side, sweeping crumbs and dust underfoot.
Each scrape of furniture across the floor was a small victory—something tangible in the middle of so much that felt out of reach.
I found myself humming quietly, a song I hadn't heard in a long time, something hopeful.
It wasn't just about cleaning. It was about wiping the slate. For me. For the baby I lost. For the life I wanted to start living again.
I paused by the window, sunlight streaming in, dust motes floating lazily through the air.
For the first time in weeks, maybe months, I let myself imagine a future—one where the past didn't control me.
I was stacking some dishes in the sink when my phone buzzed on the counter. The screen lit up with an unfamiliar number, but when I answered, I heard my mother's warm voice flowing through the line.
"Paige, mi honey, how yuh feelin'?" she asked softly, full of concern.
"I'm managing, Mommy," I said, trying to keep steady. "Cleaning up a bit, trying to get back to normal."
"We finally come down, y'know," she said with a smile in her voice. "We stayin' at di house inna Portland now. Mi an' yuh fada want yuh fi come link we. Spend time wid di family, see di country side, yuh Granny an' all di aunties an' uncles."
I hesitated, the idea of leaving Kingston feeling strange after everything. But her words brought back memories of peace and quiet—something I desperately needed.
"Yuh have fi come, Paige. We miss yuh, an' yuh need di rest. It would do yuh good fi get away from di city."
I took a deep breath. Maybe it was time.
"Alright, Mommy . Mi ago come. Me think mi really need dat."
Her laugh was light and full of warmth.
"Good! We can't wait fi see yuh. Tek care a yuself til den."
I hung up and sat down, the weight of the decision settling around me. Going back home to Portland might be exactly what I needed to heal.
After the call, I set to work packing a small bag — just the essentials. It felt strange to be leaving my apartment behind, even if just for a little while. The quiet space was starting to feel a little too empty, but I knew the countryside might offer something I couldn't find here in the city.
