Nothing Was Ever The Same

Los Angeles

After the argument with Aubrey I spent another day in L.A. so I decided to go back to my old hood and see a couple of my friends.José took the kids on a fun day at the museum.As I pulled into My old friend Tamari house.I got out the car and I knocked on the door.I saw a tall figure approach the door.

Me:Mari here..

"Nah , she ain't here."

Me:tell her Aaleeyah came by.

I hopped back in the car.And I as I reached the end of the street I saw my cousin Tilo.

Tilo:What up India.
Me:Hey Tilo.
Tilo:what you doing in L.A. it's been a long time.
Me:I just wanted to dropped by.
Tilo:I'm sure the family wanna see you.
Me:probably not.
Tilo:Come on it's been how many years..
Me:too many to count back on and besides I'm probably leaving tonight.
Tilo:you can at least go to the family house and say Hey.
Me:Yeah yeah yeah.
Tilo:you know which house. Imma head over to Mans house.
Me:alright good looking.

I drove to my Auntie Lisa house.I knocked on the door my auntie looked at me like she seen a ghost.

Auntie:India..
Me:hey auntie Lisa.
Auntie:hey come in come in.

I walked in nothing has changed over the years same scent of vanilla, and furniture.

Me:how you been?
Auntie:I'm good how have you been I haven't saw you in years.
Me:I know.
Auntie:so what you been up to?
Me:working and taking care of my little ones.
Auntie:You have babies?
Me:yes Amelia and Ali.

I showed her a picture on my phone.

Auntie:beautiful babies .
Me:thank you.
Auntie:what made you come here after so long?
Me:I decided to drop by and show my face.
Auntie:How's your brother?
Me:good same ole him traveling and modeling.Everything still looks the same.
Auntie:nothing changed much a couple people are no longer with us.
Me:true.

It was an awkward silence in between us.

Me:Did you know I had a sister?
Auntie:what do you mean a sister?
Me:a twin sister my mom never talked to you about me having a twin sister.
Auntie:at birth but we never located her.
Me:well she's here with me in L.A.
Auntie:You found her?
Me:Well she found me on social media.

My facial expression was astonished cause I felt my cheeks heat up.

Auntie:Why did you leave?
Me:I'm sure everyone told you, I mean you're the first to know everything.
Auntie:from what I heard you disappeared because your boyfriend sent you away.
Me:Well I guess part of that story is true.I know you know the rest of it.
Auntie:well the rumors.
Me:Well I matured and lived life a little and now that I look back at it that was a battle rather than a war.
Auntie:Where you been all these years?
Me:New York and Canada.I use to work for a modeling agency there but now I work as a nurse manager.
Auntie:how long are you staying?
Me:today is my last day.
Auntie:wow, yall should come over for dinner.
Me:you sure?
Auntie:yes I havent saw you in dont know how long. I never met babygirl or your new baby boy.So I insist.
Me:ok I will what time.
Auntie:how about six oclock.
Me:ok we will be here at six.

I walked out to my truck and I drove down ther block to my childhood house.I parked the truck and thought about Compton.All my childhood memories started flooding in.I drove back to the hotel to get the kids ready for tonight.After getting everyone ready for I sat with them at the end of the bed.

Me:baby.
Amelia:yes mommy.
Me:we're going to dinner to meet my side of the family.
Amelia:why havent we meet them already?
Me:its a long story but I'll tell you about it when you get older.