Pt: 2 New Apartment
Episode song: New Apartment - Ari Lennox
As Bri pulled up to her new apartment, she couldn’t help but laugh at her new environment. Scaffolding and dusty brick surrounded her as she got out of the moving truck. An ambulance rushed past, trumpeting its siren as it whooshed by. Bri wasn’t used to all of the noise and chaos and felt a sense of overwhelming unease. She kept a smile on her face though, partially because her building number was 420, and partially because she didn’t want her family to see her real feelings brewing underneath the surface.
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As soon as she entered the apartment, Bri got to work. Beginning with cleaning the apartment, Bri began to accept her fate and even fell into the trap of getting excited about her future. Bri’s dad, Jean Louis, emphatically proclaimed in Haitian Creole, “BonDie protege petit fi’m,” meaning God, protect my daughter. In his own way, she knew he was scared too but didn't know how to express it. To this, she flippantly replied, “If God loved me, he wouldn't have sent me here.” Bri’s mom, Glenda, chortled and said, “It’s because God loves you he sent you away from the distractions in your life!” With a side eye and a sigh, Bri and her family continued cleaning, unpacking, and settling in her new space.
The unpacking was done ceremoniously. Haitian music played on Bri’s speaker as her family helped her unload her whole life into her tiny studio. Luckily, she didn't bring much to begin with; she wanted to begin anew, and decided that she needed all new items to do so. She spotted the box of things Kareem gifted to her for her move and put it in the closet. She wanted to savor the moments when she would add a piece of him into her space, and decided to do it in the presence of no one but the moon.
With tears in her eyes, Bri hugged each of her family members as they were getting ready to leave. She knew goodbyes hurt, but as her new reality began to set in, she felt a familiar tug at her heartstrings watching her lifelines walk away from her. Although she chose to leave the nest, she couldn't help but feel like a child being dropped off at daycare, unaware and inconsiderate of the fact that their parent would be back to pick them up when they could. Before she could sink into her feelings, Kareem FaceTimed her and provided the comfort she craved.
“Hey Bri, let me see our new spot,” Kareem said playfully.
“It’s small but I think it’s perfect for me,” Bri replied, as she walked him through her studio with a sense of accomplishment.
“That couch looks big enough for the both of us, I can’t wait for our movie nights. I am so proud of you baby girl, you did it.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you, thank you for all the support habibi.”
As they spoke, Bri got into bed, and dozed off to the sound of Kareem’s voice. Although her world had turned upside down, she was grateful for the anchors in her life that grounded her.
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