BAHA JAHIL stood in the middle of her room, still wearing her work clothes. She stood staring at all the details about her work schedule. Even though she lived in her room for almost a year, It replicated her happy place. It had paintings on the wall that created with her new hobby. Pictures of her and Gabi and many more people she met over the months were on the wall with fairy lights surrounding it as a frame.
Over the year, many things have changed. Baha wasn't the same person as before, She was happier. Her smile was no longer forced. The dim smile that you would've seen a year ago is replaced by a smile that would turn the devil good. She had a nose piercing and her wardrobe even changed. She finally understood how to handle her mental health.
Gabrielle was to thank. In all honesty, Baha didn't think she would even be walking above ground if she didn't find Gabi on the stairs of the orphanage a year ago. She played the role of her fairy godmother... in a different way of course.
"Could you at least sit down?" she heard someone question making her jump in fright. She turned to see mama Jackie standing there leaning on the door frame, with her arms folded.
Mama Jackie looked at Baha with mere adoration. She watched as Baha became mature and gained more self-confidence. Baha would never forget what happened to her, but she definitely has learned how to continue her life.
She forgave herself. For blaming herself. For losing her self worth. For not being more self-conscious and for losing her first dear dork diary book in 3rd grade.
"I passed your door about 7 times and you've been standing in the same spot with that thin ass paper in ya hand, Mama said with a smile. It was amusing how focused Baha was.
"Its cause this shit is confusing. They want me to work for 12 hours every day after school"
"It's tough when you are forced to grow up fast," she said to the infuriated and confused 17-year old that stood in front of her. Baha sighed and stared up at the elderly woman who spoke to her in such a motherly tone. "But when you miss the sight of childhood it's even worse. You barely had a chance for freedom. All your memories end in an extra dose of trauma".
"Now i have to deal with the stress and the bullshit and the overworking and the abandonment issues and the tirednes-" Baha expressed. Now that she thinks of it her healthy mental health was only actually healthy when she was off of work. . . or sleep.
"-And the strength and the fat ass checks and the multiple scholarships and the support," Mama said before walking towards where Baha sat on the bed. She sat down next to her, "Don't ever excuse your strength and success. You think of this as the plot for your sequel. That life is over. Its time for you to let the world know who Baha Dream Jahil is. You are a-a teenage girl who didn't get a chance to live but you make due to what you were given. Life is survival and you're playing it as if it's a game of uno".
"I wouldn't say all of that, but thank you for this" Baha says with pure appreciation. Mama Jackie nodded before walking out of the room. This was the only time she was able to be complimented like this besides the letters that was passed between her and Joey.
AN HOUR LATER Baha stepped out of her room after a long shower and nap, and into the hallway that was filled with other teenagers around her age who were drama-filled and musty.
She walks down the hallways that were separated by gender and age. The set up was rather peculiar, baha's hallway was for ages 18-17 with boys in the first 10 rooms and girls in the 10 rooms that resided in the back of the hallway. 20-19 year olds were on the top floor but only those who arent able to survive in the outside world on their own. Those were the most judged but she believed that their circumstances were what ended them there. They were mostly born into foster care or brought real young but mostly they weren't taught how to survive adulthood.
She leaves her hallway and goes straight to the hallway that Gabrielle resided in. Baha isn't scared of the dark of course, but something about being alone by herself with no light didn't sit right with her. So she ran down the hall, almost slipping on the squeaky clean floor. Thats what she liked about C Hall. It was quiet and peaceful.
She reaches Gabrielle's door and knocks three times before opening it. When the door is opened she sees Gabi laying on the chest of Jayson, who definitely snuck in. Gabi didn't jump in shock or fright because she simply didn't care whether her sister saw the position she laid in. Jayson on the other hand jumped up quickly, which made Gabi roll her eyes.
"Baha-" He started making her raise her hand to dismiss him.
"Shut up and pass me the popcorn," Baha said nonchalantly. It was obvious that she didn't care of her sister breaking the rules but she did make sure to lock the door behind her.
"You're interrupting" Gabrielle scoffs before spreading her legs on her sister's lap. The couple had been broken up again but that didn't stop Jayson from sneaking in her window. He loved to say that it was because he was bored but he couldn't sleep knowing that they weren't on good terms. Over the year the couple has fallen in love with each other. They were the typical coming-of-age couple. Their story always interested Baha, she always thought of a summary for them but a summary couldn't be complete until there was an ending.
"I really wonder where all my fucks went," Baha said with a hand full of popcorn and the other hand holding a bottle of orange juice.
Jayson would be lying if he said that he wasn't scared of her. She may be nicer and live as if she has no regrets but its obvious the amount of craziness she can magically obtain in a matter of seconds when it comes to her sister.
"We were having a movie nigh-"
"Oh shit really? i swear i didn't notice. do you want me to come back?" She said with her mouth full of popcorn still. She faked as if she was going to get up and leave before jumping in between them as they lay back against the headboard.
"Oh shit was that a joke? i swear i missed it" Gabi said. She expected Jayson to be uncomfortable but he really was used to the sister's clashing heads playfully. He began to learn how to tell the difference between their real and fake arguments.
"Giggle giggle giggle," Baha said boredly. She walked to Gabi's mini-fridge and frowned when she noticed its almost emptiness. She still grabbed a Lunchable and closed the fridge door.
"I'll refill the fridge after work tomorrow" She said with the lunchable in her hand. She dropped $170 on Gabi's dresser and flashed her a tired smile before walking out.
Gabi cuddled back on Jayson's chest, sighing at the alone time. She felt at fault for how stressed and tired Baha was. She grabbed her phone and begin typing a thank you. Baha was already in her room, she saw the message and almost cried.
She was on the verge of giving up, but little did Gabrielle know, she saved her sister once again. That simple text showed the reason why she worked her ass off. Because she wanted to make her sister proud. She wanted to give her the world and its moon. Gabi was her hero.
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— author's note — sorry for the wait, it definitely doesnt seem like this took hours but it did 😂😂.
