r.e.m

when it comes to you.

"I won't waste no time
I won't waste my time when it comes to you
Put my pride aside, give it all to you"

Man, these last few weeks have been a back major shift—like life finally started making sense again. It all worked out how I'd hoped, even if the journey here was anything but easy. I found Jazelle. She's back in my life, and now by my side, and for the first time in two long years, I feel like I'm whole again.

Those two years she was gone were hell. I searched every corner, turned over every rock, and made every call I could think of, but it felt like she had just vanished. The silence was the worst part—wondering if she was safe, if she was okay, and not knowing why she'd left in the first place. I knew she wasn't happy with Travis, but I never got the full picture. That man had a hold on her, and I hated that I couldn't protect her from whatever she was going through. She kept so much to herself, and I can only imagine the things she endured, the things she hasn't told me.

But now she's back, and I'm just grateful. My baby sister—she's what I live for. Without her, I was nothing, just going through the motions, trying to fill the void she left behind. I see the changes in her, though. She's tougher, sharper, like she's built walls to keep the world out, and I get it. I don't know everything that happened, but I know it changed her.

I'm trying to accept the fact that she's grown now, that she's not the little girl who used to follow me around, looking up to me for everything. She's her own woman, and I need to give her space to breathe, to figure out her life without me hovering over her. It's hard, though—letting go of that protective instinct, wanting to shield her from anything that could hurt her. But I gave her my word I'd fall back, let her have some room.

Our relationship is getting stronger again, and that's all I can ask for right now. I want to rebuild what we lost during those two years apart, to make up for the time we missed. I'll get to the bottom of what really happened with Travis, but right now, it's about us—brother and sister, finding our way back to each other.

And as much as I want to dig deeper, to understand every scar she carries, I know I need to let her come to me when she's ready. For now, I'm just happy she's here, that we're together again, and that the bond we had is slowly starting to mend.

"Hi, babe, I'm back," Samiyah struts into the gym with that confident sway that always catches my eye, her voice soft but bright enough to cut through the clanging of weights and low hum of conversation around us. I carefully place the dumbbell back on the rack, wiping the sweat from my brow before turning to greet her.

I lean down to peck her on the lips, savoring the warmth and familiarity of her touch. I can't help but kiss her a few more times, each one a little slower than the last. "You have fun?" I ask, my hands instinctively finding their place on her waist.

"Yeah, I just got back from the mall with Tati. You like my nails?" She flashes her long, manicured nails, each one a little work of art, with their bright pink polish adorned with random but perfectly placed gems. I don't know much about nails, but they sparkle like they were made for her.