Blessings

Chapter 1

January 07, 2016

Aaliyah

"Girl. You wouldn't believe what this dude said in class today!" Taylor, my best friend since the fifth grade said as she entered my room. She and I both were accepted into Clark Atlanta University so we decided to chase our dreams together and attend the same college. The both of us are 20 and we also share an apartment here on campus; three years later and here we are elated to graduate next year.

"Oh goodness, what happened T?"

Taylor above.

"Why you say it like that?"

"I have cramps and I'm not in the best mood, but it's fine continue."

"That sucks, I hope you feel better. Now listen." She took a deep breath and clasped her hands together. Now I love Taylor and wouldn't trade her for the world but this girl is the most dramatic person I know but, that's my bestie so I'd put up with her dramatic self any day.

"So we were having an in class discussion and me being the reserved person that I am, I decided not to take part."

"That's a lie but continue." Reserved? Definitely not Taylor, she's more of the 'You start the conversation and I'll finish it' type.

"Girl hush. The discussion just so happened to be on the struggles people face in America today."

"So this girl said that 'Being a person of color in America is a struggle because of what we face daily' and she continued on by mentioning the recent shootings and the victims such as Eric Garner and Sandra Bland. Now, I fully agreed with what she was saying the girl was making complete sense. This is where I got pissed the hell off. This dude in the back of the class says 'Well being Black in America is just as hard as being gay'. Listen." I shook my head at the ignorance of some people.

"After he said that the entire class went silent. Now normally during these class discussions I wouldn't take part however, I felt attacked. So I looked back at him, now mind you he was black but completely unaware of the strides made by our people. He seemed a bit confused so I decided to enlighten him."

"I fully turned towards him" She imitated what she did in class and I couldn't help but laugh, this girl was a trip.

'Did you just sit here and disregard everything the black man has worked for? Being Black in America is no joke, our people are being killed every day by the very set of people who are supposed to protect us. Wives are left without their husbands and children without their mothers. I wake up every morning and pray that I'd be able to speak to my Father once more. So don't you sit here and try to compare two struggles that are nothing alike.
Don't get me wrong now, I understand both struggles and I sympathize with everyone who is a victim of discrimination but don't compare the two.  Don't hate the color of your skin and want others to praise you for your preference. They're both different, I'm neither transphobic or homophobic.
However, I didn't choose to wake up every day and be hated for the color of my skin. I didn't choose to go to school and be made fun of because my skin was too dark. I didn't have a choice, so when you sit here and try to brush aside one of the most pertinent struggles we face in America today, I can only hope that one day you'd wake up and see that what MLK dreamed about cannot go in vane. I can only hope that you'd appreciate the courage of Rosa Parks. Being a man of color yourself I'd think you would understa-" Then girl he interrupted me to tell me that "Oh I'm not fully black, my mom is Vietnamese. " Ignorance.

"At that point I politely picked up my bags and left the classroom." She was getting worked up again and I couldn't blame her.

"I can't believe him, girl you had the patience to explain all of that to him? I would've left as soon as that first statement left his mouth."

"Someone had to, he's clearly oblivious to a few things." I laughed and removed the heating pad from my stomach and placed it on my night stand. It was now the beginning of the second semester and we were fresh out off of our Christmas break and into the new year.

"That's why I couldn't major in Journalism. I'm okay without having those in class discussions, high school was enough." I major in Art & Design with a minor in Business Admin.

"Girl if I didn't like writing so much i would've switched majors a long time ago. Anyway, are you still coming with me to get this tattoo?"

"Did Donovan say he could take you?" Donovan is Taylor's older brother a well known tattoo artist here in Atlanta. He's 23 and one of the most talented people I know; Don is more of an older brother to me along with two I have already. My eldest brother Elliott is 26 he's my rock, my best friend, and everything thing else. My other brother Ethan is only 7 years old, and the cutest thing ever! Our age difference is a bit strange however , I wouldn't have it any other way.

"Yea, he says he has an opening next Friday."

"Alright yeah, I don't have class on Friday this semester so I'll come with."

"Yay, okay. So I decided to get mam-maw's date on the inside of my foot."

"That's gonna be cute but why there?"

"Well because she was my rock. She always knew what to say and she guided me through so much, more than people would ever know. So I decided to get it on my foot because her guidance is what brought me this far and your feet is what guides you soo yeah." I gave her a tissue and hugged her

Mam-Maw was what people called the pillar of a family and when she fought her final battle against breast cancer it hit every one hard. Taylor almost dropped out of school because it was so unexpected, we received the news just before spring break sophomore year. When every one thought she had defeated the dreaded disease it came back ten times worst.

"Awe baby don't cry"

"I'm so tired of crying man, so this tattoo is for her. It'd be something I have to remember her wherever I go."

"That's so beautiful, it has a meaning too so I'm sure you'll love it."

"I said the same thing. Don already did his, so we'll have matching ones."

"Aweee" I wiped away a fake tear causing her to laugh

"What would I do without you?"

"I don't know.."

SCENE ✨// Y'all like it?