Fresh Start
Collecting her belongings from security, Nea made her way through the bustling airport. She adjusted her glasses and pulled her suitcases to the front so she could rent a car. As she moved forward, she heard a familiar voice calling her name. Looking up, she realized it was Kwassi, her best friend from high school.
They hadn’t seen each other in almost two years. While Kwassi had visited occasionally, Nea’s relationship with Nathan had put a strain on their friendship, as Nathan was somewhat homophobic. Despite the challenges, Nea and Kwassi had stayed close, with Nea visiting instead. This time, however, Nea wasn’t visiting. She’s Moving back home for a fresh start, she has been through so much in the past two years.
She’s trying to reconnect with her roots and escape the toxicity that Nathan brought into her life. He was once her knight in shining armor, but it’s hard to believe how a prince can turn into such an ugly frog. He ran towards her with his arms wide open taking her into a tight hug.
“Woo, chile! Welcome home; ‘bout damn time too!’ ‘Girl!’ she said, pushing me back. ‘You look sexy as fuck! It’s good to see you,’ she laughed. Rolling my eyes and laughing along with her, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I replied, “I’ve missed you too, friend. Thanks for coming to get me; I was just about to go get a rental.”
“Pssht rental fa what? and you know I was not bout ta let you come here and not come get you, girl, please going for ma bag.
Let me help you with the bags.
“miss mam what you got in here you done moved back with the whole Atlanta tha’ hell!” he exclaimed frantically walking off pretending to struggle with my bag with his dramatic self, I giggled following right behind him thinking to myself yeah, I think I made the right decision coming home.
Let’s see how everyone else reacts I took a deep breath.
The car ride home was filled with us singing and laughing occasionally making conversation about old spots we used to kick at some good memories coming back.
As I arrived at my new apartment, Kwasii was gathering the bags from the car. I opened the door, and the smell of fresh paint overwhelmed my senses. Stepping inside, I noticed that the place was small but cozy, and I immediately felt a sense of belonging. Owning something that is mine has made me feel free, and it’s been so long since I’ve experienced this feeling.
Hearing him pull walking up behind me I turned around to help him with the bags.
“I love what you’ve done with the place you did good best I said smiling at him”
“I gotchuu mamas, he said ignoring me and walking past me with the bags rolling my eyes I closed the door behind us walking into what looked like the living room.
As I’m exploring the apartment, he suddenly disappears into the other room. Curious, I take a moment to absorb my surroundings, appreciating the cozy yet luxurious ambiance. While I stand there, I can hear faint sounds from the other room, but my attention is drawn back to the details of my new home. The soft taupe walls and polished hardwood floors invite me to settle in, while the stylish decor makes me smile. I I wondered where he had gone and followed the direction I saw him take, which led me down the hall to two open doors. Following the noise he made, I stopped at the first door and walked inside. The bedroom looked peaceful, featuring a king-sized bed with crisp linens and a charcoal tufted headboard. Soft sheer curtains framed the window, allowing natural light to fill the room.
As I walked to the other door, I saw him unpacking my toiletries. This is the bathroom: it’s adorned with white marble tiles and features a rain shower. It exudes a minimalist, high-end feel, complete with fresh flowers and candles. The space is intimate, well-designed, and just the right size for me. I smiled to myself, finally focusing on Kwas.
“I could have done that you know I smirked” he giggled and replied now sis I told you I gotchuu didn’t I know we got some unpacking to do so why not get started” he looked at me smiling.
“You’re right,” I replied, walking back to the bedroom to start unpacking the rest of the suitcases.
We sat on the floor, eating takeout and sipping some wine, reminiscing about our childhood when Kwas said, “I can’t believe you’re back! I missed us, you know. Shae n Em coming for the summer, though. The gang’s back, hey!” He said this while doing his little sit twerk, which made me giggle.
I felt a bit overwhelmed, but I’m glad I returned to my roots. I missed so much; things got real back there, and I really had to get out. He reached over and took my hand in his. “You’re safe now, sis. I got you, always,” he said. He leaned in and gave me a reassuring hug. We spent the night chatting until sleep eventually took over.
