Chapter 1
I have always considered the ocean my true home, feeling its deep allure calling to me. However, I now face the need to leave it all behind and confront the realities of life. As my mother urges me to depart, I steal one last glance at the sea, my heart heavy with longing.
As I wander through the vibrant streets of Brooklyn, every corner bursts with life, but resentment simmers beneath the surface. My mother, full of hope, drags me along, her excitement palpable. "Just give it a chance, Jayla," she urges, but I can't shake the feeling that this move was all for her new husband—and not for me. The city buzzes around us, yet I feel lost.
As I approached the sprawling mansion, its vibrant façade almost mocking my simmering frustration, I felt a surge of anger bubbling beneath the surface. I reached the trunk of the car, determined to seize my suitcase and reclaim a sense of control over the situation. But before I could lift it, a polished butler intercepted me with an air of superiority, effortlessly hoisting my bag as if it were nothing more than a feather. "Mom? This man can't carry everything himself; I'm going to help him," I protested, my voice tinged with defiance. I reached for my suitcase, ready to assert my independence, but he merely brushed my hand aside with a practiced ease, whisking it away into the mansion's grandeur as if my efforts were inconsequential.
"Jayla, you're going to like it here. Just stop fussing, okay?" She tried to sound reassuring, but her words dripped with an undercurrent of impatience that matched the tightness in my chest. I stole a glance at her, wishing I could blame her for the anxiety coursing through me, the weight of the unfamiliar place pressing down like a heavy fog. We climbed the long, grand staircase, my feet moving mechanically as the grand banister loomed beside us, ornate but cold. Sunlight trickled through the stained-glass windows, creating an array of colors on the polished floor, yet the beauty felt distant, like a shimmering mirage. Inside, I wrestled with my emotions, aware that if I let the chaos of my thoughts spill out, everything could unravel. For now, I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to push those feelings aside as we continued upward into the unknown.
As I stepped into my new room, I was immediately enveloped by a sense of wonder, taking in the soft, silky sheets that beckoned for rest and the grand chandelier that cast a warm, inviting glow across the space. My nightstand, though simple, sparkled with an elegance that made it hard to look away, while the vast expanse of my closet, filled with clothes, heels, and sumptuous perfumes, felt like a treasure trove waiting to be explored. The bathroom, perfectly appointed, seemed to promise comfort and tranquility, and for a fleeting moment, I envisioned myself fully embracing this new chapter. "Glad you love it, Jayla," my mom said, her voice cutting through my reverie. I glanced at her, reminding myself to ease her worries and show her that I wouldn't add to her stress, but rather bring joy and laughter into our new home.
As I looked into my mother's shimmering, mismatched blue and green eyes, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. "I'm not angry anymore, Mom, so there's no need to worry," I promised, hoping to reassure her with sincerity. Her beautiful, dashing smile lit up the room, and I could tell she appreciated my honesty. "Finally, I don't like fighting with you," I confessed, feeling the weight of our past disagreements lighten. "I promise I'll try to embrace this new custom your husband is introducing us to." With a laugh, she announced she would check on him, suggesting we grab something to eat. I hesitated for a moment, wanting to catch up with Makayla and Niqua first. As she looked at me with warmth, I couldn't help but smile and respond, "Love you, Jayla, always." "Love you too, Mami," I replied, my heart swelling with affection and the hope of new beginnings.
ur husband is introducing us to." With a laugh, she announced she would check on him, suggesting we grab something to eat. I hesitated for a moment, wanting to catch up with Makayla and Niqua first. As she looked at me with warmth, I couldn't help but smile and respond, "Love you, Jayla, always." "Love you too, Mami," I replied, my heart swelling with affection and the hope of new beginnings.