Locked up In the Past

Chapter One

----------------------------------
You will never know what you are capable of until you take that first step
----------------------------------

Phanie's POV
I swing my legs under the bench and let the cool evening breeze calm me as I watch the children play in the park. Its my only consolation since the past few months... Watching black children play in the park.

Oh!. Where are my manners?. I am Estaphania Cortez. Well both my parents are Mexican but my mum schooled in Nigeria, I returned back to Nigeria three months ago. I'm white with a thick shade of black hair, I have a very thick Spanish accent and I'm very slim and have a very let's say unusual height. Yeah it runs in the blood. My dads family are all very tall so I can't be an exception. I'm twenty and I'm the second child I have an elder brother Rodriguez Cortez.

"Ola". My only true friend Sarah appeared and plopped beside me.

"How did you find me?". I asked looking intently at the dark skinned Borno girl beside me.

"Who couldn't find you. How long have you been here?". She took off her sunglasses. It wasn't really necessary but let's say Sarah is different.

"A couple of hours". I shrugged.

"Really?. Come on how many times do we have to go through this phanie?". She said exasperated.

"We don't have to go through it". I muttered under my breath.

"You can come over anytime. I told you". She brought out her phone and started going through it.

I didn't respond until after a while

"I don't want to be a burden". I spat out.

"Look at me phanie". She said sternly but I didn't flinch. "I said look at me". She repeated harder than before making me turn.

"Is that what you think?. Have I ever said that?". She looked hurt.

"She called today". I changed the topic.

"Why? What did she say?". She looked shocked

"I didn't pick up". I said looking at a kid who fell of a slide.

She didn't say anything and we remained like that till her phone rang

"I have to go baby. We are having a family dinner. You want to come?". She asked hopefully.

"No". I said as always. She had a nice family but they always look at me pitifully cause Sarah told them that my parents are not here with me. That's the only explanation.

"Come on. It will be fun". She persuaded

"There's no fun in life". I shrugged.

"I assure you there is. Just open up and let things flow". She advised squeezing my palms.

"Torh. Na jinki (owkay. I've heard)". I said in my thick Spanish accent.

"That's the Nigerian spirit". She laughed which made me smile.

"I have to go. I'm only one call away". She hugged me.

I nodded and smiled while I watched her walk away. I stayed like that for the next two hours until

"The park is closing now ma'am". A man said behind me.

I nodded and walked out of the park silently with my hand in my jean pockets and kicking stones. The wind made my hair messy but I didn't want to park it up. I was thinking about the past. The day when things came tumbling down.