passed along my line of sight, confirming the fact that I was indeed back in Orlando. The last time I was in this city was the morning I'd spent over at Korin's nine years ago. I never thought that I would return because I had no reason to, but here I was. Back in the city that I once called home.

The city that went from a place of nothing but amazing memories to the downfall of my entire family. It was where my father committed a crime that took him away from us. It was where my mother relapsed and left me alone, and it was where my Aunt chose to show me that I was no better than her or her children. The city held a lot of weight, but I came with the intentions of ignoring all of that so that I could be a shoulder for Korin.

I'm headed to the hotel right now, I sent a message over to Korin to give her a heads up. She had been quite silent about her mother's death and it really worried me. Her reactions to tragedies were always a bit off but I expected for it to change when it hit closer to home for her. It may have or it may not have, but when she was talking to me over Facetime, she kept it calm and distant. That was what I was used to getting from her when it came down to death, heartbreak or anything else. It was thing to keep her emotions hidden away and at bay.

"Would you like me to help with your bags?" the driver asked once we were parked in front of the hotel.

"Nah, we got it. Thank you though." I climbed from the backseat, pulling my bags out with me. "You have a good day sir."

"You too." he gave me a salute.

I pushed the door shut then waited on Eliana to come from the other side. Shades were placed upon her nose to hide her bloodshot eyes from all the crying she'd done on the plane. Ms. Vivian was like a second mom to her and to know that she's gone had her devastated. No matter how hard she tried, the tears would not stop and I felt her sorrow.

I rubbed my hand along her back as she walked past me toward the entrance of the hotel. We quickly checked in and went our separate ways to our rooms. My plan was to drop my bags off then find Korin, so that was exactly what I did.

Outside of her room door, I knocked and knocked waiting on her to answer. But she didn't. With my ear placed up against the door, I listened for any movement or sound. Nothing. I then resorted to calling her phone which took two consecutive calls to receive an answer.

"Hello?" her voice was rasp meaning I'd woken her up.

"Damn, I didn't think you were asleep but I'm at your door if you wanna let me in?"

"Yeah, give me a second."

When she began to shuffle around I ended the call and tucked my phone away. About a minute later, the door opened. I was met by a disheveled Korin. Her hair was in a lopsided ponytail, her eyes were swollen and blood red, and her cheeks were stained with dried tears. It pained me to see her like this.

Immediately, I pulled her into my arms. "I'm so sorry, Kori. It's all gonna be okay."

"Yeah, I know. I'm good." she pulled back, walking over to the bed where she laid back down.

"You don't look good. You actually look like shit."

"Fuck you aight. I just woke up and I was crying before I fell asleep so I'm fully aware."

Silence fell over us and I took that moment to sit on the edge of the bed and remove my shoes. I laid back and placed my hands behind my head – the ceiling being my view.

"Eli told me about you and Justice. I didn't think it was that bad between y'all. I mean you told me but I just couldn't believe it until she told me the same thing. That's why you're here and not at your mom's house?"

Her response wasn't immediate, "Yeah. He just refuses to forgive me and I'm emptied out on attempts and apologizes. I can't do it anymore."

"So what's going to happen with your mom? Burial arrangements and all. Were y'all able to even bring that up before you left?"

"I think they were working on them when I arrived. I simply told Justice to email my portion and I'll do what I need to do. I'm not dealing with him."

I made a mental note to go by the house and chop it up with Justice. I hadn't seen the family in a long time so the visit was much needed but I needed a little more perspective as well. There was no way he was digging so deep over a few words said by a depressed teenager. I refused to believe it, and if that was indeed the case, he needed a few more words for his immaturity.

There wasn't enough pettiness in the world to not squash the drama between him and Korin. Especially when they are both grieving over the death of their mother. It was unnecessary. They needed each other more than ever at this moment. There was no time for these antics.

"You're up for going back over there—" I wasn't able to finish my question before she was interrupting.

"Uh uh, no. Both my uncle and Justice are ignorant and I'm not dealing with it, Gio."

"But you have me now. I'm not letting any of that shit get out of hand. I don't care who's there. Y'all are family and this shouldn't be happening right now. You can't even stay at your mama's house to prepare for her burial. Do you hear how that sounds?"

"I don't have anymore energy, Giovanni. You can't tell? They've worn me out. I'm just over it." she took a deep breathe.

I sat up to be able to turn my body toward her. She was laid on her back attempting to contain tears. I crawled up to her side, she wiped the tear that slipped out.

"You're not over it, Korin. That's why you're so hurt by it. They're your family and that means a lot to you so them treating you like this breaks your heart. I know it does."

"And that's true but I'm not going to force conversation with them or forcing them to forgive me. I'm washing my hands with it. Hurt or not."

"Aight, if that's what you want to do." I pushed a stray hair behind her ear. "Get you some rest."

"Are you going to stay with me?" she looked over at me with eyes dying for me to say yes.

"Of course, babygirl." I wrapped my arm around her neck. She scooted closer to me, placing her face into my chest.

"You smell really good."

I laughed. "Thank you."

She snuggled even closer to me and wrapped one of her arms around my waist. I was well rested so I pulled my phone out and used it as a form of entertainment. About thirty minutes in, I came across a post on a blog page speaking on the death of Ms. Vivian: . I sighed not sure how she would feel about the news being out in the media. It was the inevitable but so soon without her knowledge was different.

Her phone began to ping rapidly on the dresser with messages. I assumed they were condolences but I wanted her to get rest. Therefore, I reached over and put it on vibrate to keep her from waking due to the constant sound. But to no avail, someone began to knock on the door. She deeply exhaled.

"Can you please see who that is?" she asked.

I slid from the bed and traveled over to the door. I peeked out of the peep hole to see Eliana and Noelle. I opened the door and Eliana glanced around me in search for Korin.

"Is she sleep?"

"You can come in, Eli." Korin turned over, releasing a yawn.

I stepped out of the way allowing the both of them to enter the room. They both removed their shoes and climbed in the bed on either side of Korin. To give them girl time that I'm sure she wanted, I went over to my shoes to place them on. Both Eli and Noelle began to ask her how she was feeling, had she eaten and more. As she responded to them, I slipped my feet into my sneakers.

"You're leaving?" I peeked over my shoulder to see Korin's eyes on me.

"Yeah. I'll be back though." I stood to my feet. "I just need to run somewhere for a minute."

"Okay."

As soon as I opened the door, I was met by a familiar face getting ready to knock on the door. She looked up at me with furrowed eyebrows. "Is Korin in here?"

"Come in Brit!" Korin called from the bed.

I moved over so that she could step in, then I stepped out closing the door behind myself. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and ordered a ride to where I needed to go. As it made it's way to the hotel, I made my way down to the lobby. It arrived within five minutes and I climbed inside in hopes that I could find what I was looking for.

When the car came to a stop and I saw Justice standing outside packing things into the back of his truck, I praised my timing. He looked as if he was about to leave but I made it just in time to stop him and chop it up. Korin may have wanted to wash her hands with him and that was completely understandable. However, I needed insight. She refused go into specific detail with me and why not go to him and see what the deal was, because though she kept the information tight, he was obviously being the asshole.

"Thank you." I shut the door of the car catching Justice's attention.

He squinted his eyes then broke out into a smile. "Nah, Giovanni? That's you?"

"Yeah man, wassup?" I approached him, giving him dap.

"Nothing much man. I heard about the injury, you cool?"

"Yeah, I'm aight. I've been in rehab training so I'll be back stronger and better."

"That's wassup. You here looking for Korin?"

"Nah, nah I know where she at. I actually came to chop it with you for a minute."

"About what?" he raised his head and crossed his arms over chest. That let me know that he had an idea of what I wanted to talk about and was putting his guard up.

"What's going on with you and Kori, bro? This ain't y'all."

He smacked his teeth. "She sent you over here to do this?"

"She don't even know I'm here. I just came here to see wassup because I know this ain't y'all and she hurting man."

"Korin likes to put on a show."

"Oh word? Like how? Her depression? That's what you calling a show? Because the last time I checked that was a serious issue that affects everyday people."

"What did she have to be depressed about?"

"Does that matter? She is your sister, dawg. You've never known Korin to be evil or say no fucked up shit just because."

"Yeah aight. You wasn't here to see what she turned into. You know Courtland—"

"I know all about that bruh. Even still, that should show you right there that life is short and that something was really going on with her because she praised the ground Courtland walked on. Never would she come at him sideways."

"I don't wanna hear none of that because she knew what she was doing. She said fuck this family, she tried to take her own life, she got pregnant and killed the baby, and is at fault for Courtland being murdered. She was well aware of everything. Fuck a depression."

"Pregnant?" was the only thing that I was stuck on. For some reason it created a wave like feel in my stomach.

"Oh she ain't tell you that huh? Yeah I only know that bullshit from reading that journal she carried everywhere. She got pregnant from some nigga her sophomore summer. Korin was wilding out man I'm telling you."

"Justice don't be that person in the black community that acts oblivious to mental health issues. If you actually listen to everything you said, she was obviously unhappy. Her trying to take her life wasn't enough call for help? Y'all lost your father young, lost your brother and now Ms. Viv is gone. Do you really want to continue treating your sister like this rather than hearing her out and rebuilding y'all relationship?"

He stared at me then scratched his head. "I don't know."

"What is there not to know. It's okay for you to realize that you were wrong and didn't recognize her cry out. It's apart of growth and being human. The best thing you can do is admit that to her, apologize, give her the opportunity to apologize and y'all move on. Y'all at least owe it to Ms. Viv."

"I hear you." he nodded.

The back door of the car opened and a little girl peeked her head out. She was a spitting image of Korin which caused my eyes to widen. "Daddy come onnnn."

"I'm coming princess, give me one more minute."

"Yo, she took Kori's whole face."

He chuckled. "Hell yeah. I was blowed as hell when she came out looking like Korin. I was like damn fuck me and your mama huh?"

"Daddyyyy!" she called again.

"Aight bruh, let me get in this car. You need a ride?"

"Nah, I'm about to walk over to my aunt's house."

He frowned. "She don't live there no more. They moved like five years ago. Some Asian family live there now."

"Word? Then I guess so."

, so they planned for us all to hang out by the pool and have a few drinks. I was two cups of apple Ciroc deep and honestly needed my bed. I thought that being in the water — one of the most relaxing places for me, I would be happier but I wasn't. The alcohol wasn't of much help either. All it did was intensify my sadness.

"Y'all I'm going back to the room. I'm tired." I announced while wrapping a towel around my body.

"Are you sure? We can come up and spend the night with you." Brit offered from six feet.

"No, I want to be alone. Thank you guys for being here for me. I truly appreciate it and I love y'all so much."

"We love you too boo. Go and get some rest and let us know if you need us." replied Eliana.

I waved goodbye and walked toward the side door with my slides and phone in hand. I used my keycard to get back inside the hotel then made way for the elevator. As I stood waiting, my phone rung in my hand from an unknown number. I was hesitant to answer because blogs and other celebs had being calling me all day to offer condolences. But this number had an Orlando area code, therefore, I answered.

"Korin Alexander." I shifted my weight onto one leg and watched the elevator numbers decline.

"Hey, Korin it's Justice...." I remained silent in honest shock that he decided to call me after earlier today. "I know you weren't expecting me to call but I want to sit down and talk to you. Face to face. Can we do that?"

"I don't have the strength nor energy to go back and forth with you Justice. I just want to mourn Mama in peace."

His line went quiet. "That's not what this is. I owe you an apology and you deserve to hear it in person. Not over the phone. Can we have breakfast together tomorrow?"

"Um, yeah. I can do that."

"Aight I'll see you in the morning."

I replied with an okay and ended the call. To say that I was in shock that he was offering up an apology after all these years was an understatement. It was all that I wanted and for him to actually listen to understand me rather than to merely react. It seemed as if I would finally be getting that. If anything that brought my spirits up a bit and gave me a little hope.

The elevator slowed on the fifth floor and pinged. Someone was getting on so I stepped over. When the doors spread apart, it was Giovanni in different clothes than earlier.

"I was just coming up to your room. You got in the pool?"

"Yeah, the girls wanted to cheer me up. It wasn't of much help though." I admitted.

"At least they tried."

The doors opened again on the seventh floor and we both stepped out. Once we reached my door, I waved the key card over the pad causing the door to unlock. Immediately, I dropped my shoes down in the corner and tossed my towel onto the nearby chair.

"I need to ask you something," Giovanni leaned against the dresser while shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Go ahead." I halted my movements to look at him.

"Did you get pregnant after that night?"

My entire body stilled. I was pretty sure I wasn't even breathing anymore. He stared at me in anticipation awaiting the answer I was going to give him, but I wasn't sure that I wanted to. If there was anything in my life that I did not want to speak on, it was definitely that. A young girl, choosing to give herself away to her best friends only for him to leave abruptly and she finds out that she's pregnant four weeks later.

When I found out that I'd gotten pregnant, I was already at rock bottom due to his absence. I was cooped up in the house refusing to interact with anyone and my phone remained on silence. But that news hit me like a hurricane. I felt like everything in my life was going wrong. The only person I was comfortable enough confiding in was Courtland. He let me know that even though I was young, I could keep it because I had him for help but he also told me about planned parenthood.

The two of us researched as much as we could and found ways around needing my mom's consent. We even went as far as claiming low income so that we didn't have to pay the entire $350 for the abortion pill. We put in a lot of work to get it done and when it was over, I was hit by a deeper wave of depression and everything cascade downhill from there.

"Korin." he pushed himself off of the dresser, taking steps toward me. "Did you get pregnant after that night?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." I went to step around him only for him to grab me and pull me back in front of him.

"You got pregnant sophomore summer. Unless you had sex with someone else — which I highly doubt. That leaves that night."

"Who told you this information?"

"It don't matter. Tell me whether this is true or not. With the way you're acting I'm thinking it's true but I need to hear you say it."

I hesitated but his intense stare gave me no choice. "Yes, it's true."

He immediately closed his eyes and took a seat on the bed. Now it was my turn to watch him. I couldn't read exactly how that made him feel but he was obviously bothered by it.

"What all happened?" he rested his folded hands underneath his chin, looking at me.