Ahlia Brown
(5 years ago)
Ahlia Brown stood on the beach with her parents, the late afternoon sun warming the sand beneath their feet. Her mother glanced at the waves and said, "Ahlia, stay close to the shore... being so close to the water is dangerous." The irony of the warning, given their reason for being there, made Ahlia laugh softly under her breath.
Ahlia chuckled and replied, "Mama, we here for a reason."
"I know, but mi worry about yuh," her mother said, her accent slipping through with gentle concern.
Her father stood a few steps behind them and added, "Your mother’s right. Just be aware of your surroundings. You don’t know this place like you think you do."
Ahlia nodded, though her attention kept drifting toward the other families scattered along the sand, their soft laughter and movements filling the air. Something about San Pedro always felt familiar to her, even though she had visited only a handful of times before.
Her mother stepped closer and adjusted the strap of Ahlia’s dress, still treating her like a little girl. "You okay?" she asked, searching her daughter’s face with worried eyes.
"I’m fine," Ahlia said. "Just taking it all in."
Her mother sighed in that familiar way, the sound of someone who wanted to say more but held back. "When we were your age, we didn’t get to come to places like this. Make sure you enjoy it, hm? But don’t wander too far."
Her father finally moved beside them. "If you gonna walk, stay where I can see you," he said, his voice softer now. "This water… it got a mind of its own."
Ahlia rolled her eyes slightly while smiling, careful not to seem rude. "I’ll be careful. Promise."
Her mother touched her arm gently. "Go on then. Go look around. But if anything feel wrong, yuh come straight back."
"I will," Ahlia told her.
For a moment, the three of them simply stood together as the breeze tugged at their clothes and the sharp scent of salt hung in the air. Both parents watched Ahlia closely, even as they pretended to relax. They could sense something shifting inside their daughter, a quiet change they could not quite name.
"Go enjoy yourself, princess," her father finally said, waving her off with a warm gesture.
Ahlia exhaled in quiet relief, grateful for the small freedom even if it came wrapped in rules. Her parents believed they were raising a little angel, and to be fair, she mostly was—just a bit more complicated and freaked out than they realized.
She walked along the shore at first, moving slowly so the cool water could brush over her toes. With every step, her mind grew clearer, as if the tide were pulling away the heavy thoughts she carried.
As Ahlia moved farther from her parents, she noticed a group of kids around her age playing handball on the beach. They were loud and carefree, sand flying around them as they ran and shouted.
She stopped without realizing it, watching them awkwardly from a short distance.
"Hey, curly head," a voice called out.
Ahlia turned her head quickly.
"Wanna play?" asked a dark-skinned boy with sharp features, holding the ball tucked under his arm.
All six of them paused and stared at her, waiting. But one boy stood out to Ahlia immediately. He had a caramel skin tone, pretty eyes, and an aura that felt different from the rest.
