If Only We Knew

In this heartfelt coming-of-age story, Zakiya, a bright and hopeful young girl, navigates the highs and lows of her crush. In 7th grade, she discovers that her crush, Marcus, secretly harbors feelings for her too. However, what starts as a mutual attraction quickly spirals into confusion and heartache when her best friend betrays her trust by revealing her secret.

As Zakiya tries to cope with Marcus's sudden coldness and indifference, she turns her attention to Bryson, a classmate who shows interest in her. But just as she begins to move on, Marcus's unexpected jealousy and eventual efforts to win her back complicate her emotions. The once simple crush turns into a tangled web of feelings, misunderstandings, and unspoken words.

When Marcus finally reveals a secret of his own, Zakiya is forced to confront not only her feelings for him but also her understanding of love, acceptance, and friendship. This revelation makes her reflect on what might have been if they had known each other better, communicated openly, and truly understood each other from the start. Through the tears, laughter, and painful lessons learned from missed connections, Zakiya grows into a stronger, wiser person. She realizes that growing up often means accepting the things we'll never fully understand and learning to let go of the "what ifs" that linger in our hearts.