Remade

The Ride

The air smelled of fresh rain as I jogged through the park, my feet hitting the pavement in a steady rhythm, the sound syncing with the beat of Purpose by Potter Payper blasting through my AirPods. I could feel the sweat trickling down my neck, but I didn't mind. The pain in my legs was a reminder I was doing something for myself, something outside the routine. The music kept my mind from drifting back to old thoughts — to the weight I was still carrying from the past, even though I barely admitted it to myself.

One more mile.

I didn't need to look at my watch to know that I had nearly made it. Just a little longer, and I could be done. No more self-doubt, no more feeling trapped. It felt like a win, every run.

The pigeons in the park never seem to get the memo that they're supposed to scatter when people approach, so I did my usual — tried to scare them off with a couple of exaggerated arm swings. The little shits were too comfortable around humans, but it didn't matter. It was always a minor battle, me versus them.

I heard the ping of my watch and stopped, panting as I took a moment to catch my breath. Done. I was done.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead, chugging down some cold water, relishing the coolness against my burning skin. It wasn't that I loved running — it was just... peaceful. A moment of clarity when I didn't have to think about anything else. I had started running a few weeks ago, and I didn't know why, but something about it made the noise in my head quieter. Easier.

I glanced at my phone, and the bus tracker app pinged: 7-minute delay. Typical. As if the day wasn't already slow enough.

With a sigh, I leaned against the nearest billboard, scrolling through my phone while I waited for my bus. I wasn't in a hurry. My life was moving at its own pace, and sometimes, I couldn't quite tell if that was a good thing or not.

"Ayo, miss, lemme chat to you real quick."

I rolled my eyes before even looking up. Sure enough, two guys in a black Benz were waiting at the red light, their attention now fully fixed on me. They'd been yelling stuff at me ever since I'd crossed the street, and I was already exhausted. The last thing I wanted was a conversation with some randoms.

I kept my head down, pretending like I didn't hear them. But then, the second shout pierced through my calm:

"What, so you think you're too good to chat to man?"

I almost laughed out loud. Too good? For what, a conversation about nothing?

I didn't respond right away. I just pulled my jacket tighter around me, willing the bus to hurry up. But of course, they kept going.

"Oi, you must think you're all that," one of them laughed, his friend flashing yellow teeth like that made him look cooler.

I glanced at the bus, now a block away, and took my chance to finally speak. "Piss off!" I snapped, shaking my head as I turned to face the incoming bus.

There. Done.

I tapped my Oyster card, boarded the bus, and made my way to the back, propping my feet up on the chair. People hated when I did that. I didn't care. The ride was always better that way.

I put my AirPods back in, the sound of Purpose filling my ears once more. I zoned out, watching the streets blur by. The bus ride was always something I could tune out. The hum of the engine, the occasional stop, and the distant chatter from the other passengers—it was easy to let my thoughts wander, especially on days like today. But as I settled into my seat, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to shift. It felt like the calm before a storm.

The bus halted to a stop, and for a second, I was jolted forward, my thoughts scattering. As I adjusted my position, my eyes wandered to the people coming on. It was late, so there weren't many people. But then, just before the door closed again, he appeared.

Kadeem.

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Hey guys, I hope you enjoyed chapter 1! Did anyone catch what I did there with the title🙂‍↕️?? Only the Potter fans will get it but anyways more chapters to come guys xxx (Hopefully every Sunday)