Are You Ready To See That Vision? (Huey Freeman)

Alia

     4:30 in the morning and there's no surprise that Alia is awake staring outside her window into the damaged streets of Homestead, Florida.
     Hurricane Katrina did serious detriment to the city causing flooding, and the combination of rains and winds downed trees and power lines, leaving 1.45 million people without power. Damage in South Florida was estimated at $523 million . The city is left with damages the government hasn't been able to repair. The city made Florida's number one for its crime, rating a 90 on a scale of 1 (being the least) and 100 (worse) for violent crimes. With this information in mind, it's understandable that my mom was murdered about a week ago when she was on her way home from work. I've never been the one to show any emotion, but the death of my mother broke me. Her death made me even more introspective than I was before. I remained in my room and during her funeral, I talked to no one and simply walked away from those who tried to offer commiseration.  She helped me become the intelligent young woman I am today, I lost the one person I trusted, yes I admit I was in pain.
     Looking around my packed room I sighed knowing today was the day I'd be moving in with my grandpa or  abuelo*. He seemed like a prestigious man, the funeral was the first time I became acquainted with him, all I know is that he lives in Woodcrest, a place in Maryland. I didn't mind moving to a congenial neighborhood, or state for that matter. I wanted to start fresh and not live in fear of going outside too late. It's not like I had friends to loose anyways, no one wants to be friends with the smartest person in the school here, you actually get beat up for that, but luckily I managed to keep a low profile. People were actually scared of me, word got around somehow that my dad was part of a gang before he left the country. He used to keep in contact, but now I think he's expired . Not only that but I was known for being a master of most martial arts and being skilled with guns. Like my mama always said, a girl like me in a place like this needs to know how to be the shit out of someone.
     I look at the time after seeing I was lost in thought and see that it's now 5:47 AM and decide to take a long time getting ready knowing my abuelo would be here at around 8:00 AM. I grabbed my outfit that consisted of a hoodie and black leggings going into the bathroom. Looking at my poofy curls I decided to waste time going through my whole flat ironing process. I start the shower and began taking off my pajamas revealing bruises and scars all over my caramel toned skin. I may be a master of most martial arts, but every master was once an amateur themselves. It took patience, hard work, and dedication to be at the level I'm at and it shows every time I failed and got back with these scars. I'm proud of each and every scar because each and every scar was a life lesson of never giving up. You don't practice until you get it right, you practice until you can't get it wrong. 
     I get in the shower wetting my hair before applying my "all natural" coconut shampoo and let me tell you, this smells the fucking best. I section off my hair with the shampoo still in it and start to detangle my hair with my brush from bottom to top. Once I finished doing that to every single section of my hair I rinse out the shampoo and do the same process with my conditioner and then rinse that out. After I'm done with my hair I put it all into a loose braid and begin to wash and shave my body. 

You don't own me
You don't own me

Well, let's go
But I'm Gerald and I can always have just what I want
She's that baddest I would love to flaunt
Take her shopping, you know Yves Saint Laurent
But nope, she ain't with it though
All because she got her own dough
Boss bossed if you don't know
She could never ever be a broke hoe

You don't own me
I'm not just one of your many toys
You don't own me
Don't say I can't go with other boys

Don't tell me what to do
And don't tell me what to say
Please, when I go out with you
Don't put me on display