AUTHOR's NOTE.
MARIA
With Maria battling metastatic cancer and her son battling out his self identity, these are just two of the many people that appear to be further from where they thought they will end up.
They don't know where they'll end up, but one could only hope it's back where the family belongs.
Miami. But how will she come to terms to leaving her mother, perhaps for a long time this time and Alejandro, intentional this time. And does she still have a story, yet unfolded with Marc? Who knows-
AALIYAH
Aaliyah is dumbstruck when someone from her past shows up on her front porch. But what scares her the most is how and Why her longlost sister is here, in Miami. How will her parents take it—
—and how far is she herself, from being one. In the coming chapters, she explores deeply into family and origin but like they say, don't go digging in deep places because
JACQUELINENOWI fell to the ground. I was pushed, with my hands tied and a clothe around my eyes to prevent me from seeing where exactly i was. As i reached the ground, it felt heated like there was some sort of fire and i could instantly hear the sound of a man——as if he was on a call.I struggled to stand immediately at the sense of being let go off and i realized my legs weren't tied. Perhaps that was the point, i could move but i couldn't see but somehow i couldn't walk. It's like seeing the world but not being able to touch it.Knowing you have something, but not being able to reach it. And it was more torture as i kept stumbling on little things until i couldn't stand anymore. I could not even use my hands as any sort of direction, they were tied. And as i laid on the ground, i had wandered what exactly happened.I had wandere
WUIn Miami, chances are you've witnessed a drug transaction, you have sold or bought drugs. We were known for that, when we weren't working——we were having fun. And that meant drugs, the late night parties, wine and strippers. It was no doubt that we knew how to have fun. Because we could spend the whole day working tiring jobs and that was our breathing space. Our space.And with the drugs. Came the luxury. Miami was luxurious and extravagant and ostentatious. Wu was about about to tap into both.TWO MONTHS AGOWUI made my way through the door, i had shown up barely hours ago after figuring out the key to my grandmother's safe. In my bag was alot of dollars on my first withdrawal, it felt like a treat——after a long day trying to prove it was mine. I was abit tipped off that they had an idea it was drug money, perhaps illegal money especially by one that seemed
AALIYAHMeanwhile, Aaliyah hadn't moved. She wanted to so badly meet up with Wu because of Jacqueline but then she was shocked by her sister——and her sudden appearance.Ayeesha had shown up after nineteen years or more, pulling her in for a lasting hug as she just dropped a weighty bag to the ground. Just one.Aaliyah was perplexed, not even hugging back, she was in utter shock as she made contact with Dele."Wha—" Her attempt to speak had failed. Words even had failed her. Aaliyah as she pulled her away, she had tears shimmer in her eyes before she looked away. "Sister" Ayeesha echoed, sniffling also she raised her hands to Aaliyah's cheeks.She backed off, surprised as Ayeesha slouched her shoulders and finally she could speak. She had opened her lips so wide as if she was about to deliver a powerful monologue but all that came out
AALIYAHFor almost all the girls, twenty years ago held some event, something grave and not often a good thing. For Wu, she lost her parents in the car crash twenty years ago, and for Maria, she struggled with abuse in the hands of her father and his friends——sexual. Jacqueline was alright, having no idea that in a few more years, she would be blamed for her parent's death and go to jail on her eighteenth birthday. How i wished she had known.How i wish we all could know when something was about to go wrong, asides a gut feeling. Perhaps something more elaborate and clear. Like Aal also around twenty years ago, what if she had known the night she had gone to bed would be the last she would see Ayeesha. That she would be gone by morning and would have her parents lie about it.All these events, all a score years away.TWENTY YEARS AGO
MARIAMaria felt a sting in her heart as she looked into the mirror. Her eyes were sour and her face, crimson. Her hands obsessively pulled her hair. It had been six weeks since she had started chemotherapy and she had to go in today, the day she dreaded——of which her fate was to be decided. Whether or not the treatment was working. And whether it was all worth it. She slowly pulled out her hair as she wandered, who she'll become without it.She was latinx and she had admired her hair growing up, it would be weird seeing how much worth your hair added and now, it was only Maria that could understand that pain. She could walking on the street of Miami, lifting her shoulders to the never ending compliments of her curls, her hair.What was she now, that she had to wear a scarf or perhaps she would need to cut it herself. She heaved a deep breathe, before looking back at her mother who had opened the door slightly—
~Sexuality.Your sexuality can play an important role in your identity. It often refers to a person's sexual orientation or preference. Rather than just the need to reproduce. Your sexual orientation is who you are attracted to——emotionally, mentally, and physically attracted to. It is the most important form of human emotional expression and these deep connections to one another. And exploring it is only as natural and safe.Its diverse and personal and sometimes scary. Scary in the sense that you cannot change it, it changes you and who you thought you were. But then what if you, yourself don't know who you are?Or what even is this thing called sexuality. All you'll feel is scared, and as for Mateo. He was, alot especially after his grandmother's words in the car.And the potential fear in his mother's eyes. All he was, was scared and alone. And perplexed on what ever he felt f
WUThe wind was so satisfying to Wu. Blowing across her face and swaying her short hair to the sides. She had numbed the noises from the construction——she stood around, a green vest over her simple large tshirt with an oversized jumpsuit. She looked directly at them, breaking through a part of the walls of Jones'. She couldn't believe it, she couldn't also believe that the leader of a drug gang already had an office in the yet to be completed building.No matter how fast he hastened it, it was left down to how much work the workers could do especially through a slowly lifting pandemic. Wu had to send the girl's packing, even Jade as she closed down Jones' for weeks that would transgress into months.Till it would eventually be ready. Then suddenly, she pulled out her earplugs as if someone had called her. No one had but it was fun seeing her turn around with a questioning expression on her face."D
WU“Can i see your papers?” She asked. Rodriguez, her police tag had given her away. She had stern face with a hurriedly drown eyebrow.If you had heard anything about female policemen, it was quite stereotypical to assume they were the harshest. And it sent a shiver up my spine. Looking down as i struggled to get s grasp of my wallet.“Shit” The curse word had become an anthem as i finally grasped it, handing it over to her. She stared at it for a puzzling second. She had broad shoulders and large arms in a way that complemented her beauty and stance. She was unlike all the others.My feet pushed further the stash underneath the paddle which accommodated the brake and gas as some sort of shield. She eyed my slightest movements before she walked to the back of the car. Perhaps to look up the number on the plates.And i only deemed it right to tell Jac
You can check out my other books on goodnovel❤️ELLE BY ONYEMAOBIthe heart wrenching events that build up to the disappearance of a town’s girl. Elle Sanders, including it’s shocking aftermath.-Yonsdale was a quiet town, never like the ones you saw on television. They were minute and everything they did was uniformed. They were so little that they knew one another, all too well. And asides that love that they shared, there was peace.Or they had thought. There was rarely any robbery at the least or havoc and tragedy almost never hit them but that is until the Sanders family. Having moved there since over a decade, Elle’s father returns from the military but with post traumatic syndrome. This does make it hard for everyone till they eventually loose him.And then Elle, few weeks later.She was the perfect girl, t
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTFirst of all i want to say thank you to all who read this book from beginning to end. And thanks for all the reviews and support i’ve gotten from this platform, Goodnovel.Looking back, this book has really come a long way especially as i started it on wattpad as a free book. This is a chapter dedicated to your support as well as your very well received suggestions.And this is exclusively on Goodnovel now.Without you guys, i wouldn’t have gotten enough motivation and encouragement to keep writing. Though this is the end of the book, the era still lives on. The Vamps still live on in our minds.Thank you once again. And i’ll keep writing and updating my other books as time goes on❤️ALL RIGHTS RESERVEDNo part of this book may be reproduced, distributed
Jacqueline had her legs up in the air as Harry squeezed her palms tightly. She couldn't believe she was here, doing this again."Push" The nurse yelled into her ears as she felt hands running down her thighs. "You're contracting, baby's coming out soon" You could hear the sound of her hands against the gloves.Jacqueline's head was tilted and her eyes faced the ceiling, refusing to look at Harry who was barely holding himself together in his blue scrubs and the napkin he had against her sweaty forehead.She was weak, feeble as if it were her first time. She couldn't believe she'd have another this soon, and all she could hear was the sound of their voices the night they talked about it.NINE MONTHS AGOThere was still a box lying on the kitchen counter. Jacqueline was in Harry's hands as they watched the tom and jerry movie. It was whilst giggling tha
161JACQUELINE BAIEMy feet brushed against the wet grasses, i had taken off my shoes as i fled down the hills in his hands. You could hear his brief chuckles and my loud giggles as i almost tripped.He halted to catch me in his hands. His arms wrapped around me as the winds breezed into my face, swaying my hair to the sides. I wore a smile on my face as it all moved slowly——i was here, not mentally but in this exact moment. Physically, in a short white dress and a veil that had fallen along the aisle. And i wanted to stay here. I wanted to always be here.He gripped me a little hard that it began to tickle and i pushed him away to the ground before making a run for it. I ran towards where the sun was setting and where i could still see Maria and the other people and the wedding canopy that we had set.Just a few of us, family. That had always been here for the big and small moment
WUI had always wanted to bring her flowers, but not like this, not at her grave. It was shimmering with snow that dropped to the ground.And my boots were buried in it whilst i stared at the red flower i had dropped it. I looked to the chair that was beside, snow on the seats before i sat in. My gloved hands wrapped my elbows as i moved my head warmer. Each breath i took gave accompanied with a chill. It was freezing out here.But i didn’t care. I just wanted to see her.“Anyways Fox is going to spend time. Life probably, i just don’t want to know or get myself involved in anything like that” I said, as if we had been talking for a long time. Silence dawned as i looked to the gatekeeper. He was already used to me coming here since the past few months and talking to a corpse. I wasn’t crazy, he knew it.He would often say how i wasn’t the only person that came here to do it. The truth is,
JACQUELINETWO MONTHS LATER"The loss of a someone close to us is perhaps one of the deepest and most sensitive we will ever come to experience. It can be difficult to process these emotions and work through the stages of grief" I had started out, calm as if i’d gotten my emotions in check. You could hardly believe that i was the same one that broke out in tears a while ago.I cleared my throat, staring Wu in the eyes, who had nodded to give me a sort of encouragement. I then breathed heavily before i carried on."To say Aaliyah was selfless would be an understatement— She was more and to a lot of us, even more. She tried her best to brighten our lives even when she was living in the dark" I paused.I had read all the articles to prevent me from crying when i passed the eulogy. I had read about remembering to breathe, eating befo
WUEverywhere was silent, the door had finally stopped swinging as the nurse went back out. The same nurse that had wheeled me in. I sat in my chair in front of the bed in which she was laid open.The nurse had raised the sheets over her head but i was sure that she was listening. I had hoped that she was listening.Jade.Tears overwhelmed my eyes before they fell down my cheeks. The tears that were more than enough to ache the throat and make the voice disappear. I searched for the words to say as i finally saw her unconscious body, laying across the bed. I didn’t know it was going to be this hard to do this.“J—” I couldn’t get passed the first letter of her name as my voice quivered. I was shaking, as i buried my face into the tissue in my hands. I snorted in it before heaving in a deep breath.“Hey Jade” I broke into uncontrollabl
AALIYAHEverything had changed. With my parents by my left and Dele sitting close to me on the hospital bed. I could hear my slow groans as i was intubated.But alas, my eyes were open and i could see Leila walking slowly towards me with Wu beside her and the only question asides who wouldn't have thought——Was the inevitable one of whether or not i was willing to let go. But the choice was not up to me.If not, maybe i would have chosen to stay and then my eyes fell her. With whom i shared so much of a striking resemblance with. Who would've thought?My own sister, Ayeesha.-There was a light that flashed behind my eyes. The light, before my eyes shut wide open. Dele was beside me and Diane, and Wu.“I’m so glad you’re awake” Dele said, clenching my p
JACQUELINEAaliyah walked towards the door, twisting the knob to slide the lock out of place. I could see her shadows from beneath her door. It had approached after knowing merely twice. And then the door swung open to reveal her in an apron——and a half wide smile. “Jacqueline, now what are you doing here?” She asked, sticking the tips of her fingers into her mouth. “I just came to see you” I replied as i walked in, closing the door behind me.NOWI walked in, brushing shoulders with the sheriff that was just about to take his leave from Wu’s room. I trailed him with the corner of my eyes as the door closed behind him. They were scattered around the halls i had noticed. And Wu was seated up, against her pillow which was against the wall.She looked better.She was better. She had a bandage wrapped around her left wrist and one around