After Eight years, Ghenesis Santiago leaves for Atlanta, Ga to try having a relationship with her father and his new family. While having to maintain her senior year in highschool and working with her brother and his Crew under her father's orders...
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First day of school hit that cool Autumn Monday.
I ain’t even gonna lie… I wasn’t ready.
I’d spent the whole weekend locked up in my room like I was allergic to fresh air. Barely ate. Didn’t say a word to nobody unless I had to. After what happened with Charles, I didn’t have it in me to sit across from him at the table like everything was cool. I couldn’t even breathe right around him. That man didn’t see me—he saw a disappointment.
And Zeus? Man... he was just there. He didn’t speak. Didn’t even look at me for real. Just passed by like I was a shadow in his hallway. Cold stares. Silence heavy as bricks. I didn’t know if he hated me, pitied me, or just didn’t care. I wanted to say something—anything—but the words kept dying in my throat. So I stayed quiet.
That morning, I laid in bed for a minute, staring at the ceiling, trying to hype myself up.
I whispered a quick prayer, then dragged myself up to pick out my outfit.
Something chill, something cute. Black cargo pants with the chains on the side, oversized graphic tee, light denim jacket. I threw it on the bed and hopped in the shower, letting the water wash away the doubt sitting on my skin.
But when I stepped out and passed the mirror, I froze.
Towel wrapped around me, I caught a glimpse. My eyes dropped, and I slowly opened the fabric.
There it was.
That deep, ugly scar tracing across my stomach, then winding down my thigh. It looked like pain. Like a reminder. My hand traced it, and just like that—tears started falling. Quiet, but real.
My chest tightened, memory flooding back like a storm I couldn’t stop.
Why did I have to be born like this?
Why couldn't I just be… normal?
Knock knock knock.
“Ghen, sweetheart? You up? I made breakfast,” Maddie called gently from the other side of the door.
I cleared my throat, wiping my eyes with the towel. “Uh… yeah. I’ll be out in a minute.”
I pulled myself together. Got dressed. Pulled my sleeves over my hands like a safety net. Then I walked downstairs.
Maddie was in the kitchen with the kind of smile that made you feel warm and awkward at the same time. She placed a plate of pancakes and turkey bacon in front of me.
