Worthy of Sin | Nas

One

Zola 'Slim' Monroe || June 1998

  
"Welcome to mí casa! It's not much, but it'll make do for now..." Kori opened the front door to her brownstone and proceeded to step inside and I followed. The aroma of Florida water and sandalwood incense filled the space and it gave me a warm, home feeling. She wasn't lying when she said it wasn't much. It was pretty small compared to the apartments back home, but I wasn't judging. Besides, it was just her until she opened up her humble abode to me, so I was grateful.

The place had cemented floors, in which she decorated with neutral colored rugs that matched the minimalistic furniture. The paintings she had hanging around were a nice distraction from the dingy, cracked walls; but she definitely made it work. "I see you lookin' around here wit' ya face all turnt up! We come from the same place, baby, I know what you're thinking, and they were my thoughts at first too, but, it is what it is. Just be glad you ain't gotta worry about rats and roaches crawling all over you." She spoke and I chuckled softly and nodded in agreement.

"You right, but I appreciate you for letting me stay with you... and for getting me a job." Thanks to Kori, she was able to get me a job at a club she worked at, working as a bartender/bottle girl and I would actually be starting with her tonight."You know I got you, cuzzo. Auntie asked me to look out for you, and ima do just that." I rolled my eyes playfully and we both chuckled. She then led me further through her place, showing me the kitchen, where she kept hygiene and household products and the bathroom before she showed me to my room.

The room was pleasant. It wasn't as big as hers was, but it would accommodate me. It's not like I really had a choice in the matter anyways, but I was beyond grateful to even have a roof over my head.

I threw my duffel bags onto the Full-sized bed and exhaled heavily. To say I was tired would be a major understatement. The three-day Bus ride from Oakland to New York did just enough to drain me of my energy. Between being uncomfortable, loud ass children and a putrid pissy smell that lingered from the bathroom on the bus was the perfect remedy to put me in the current state of restlessness.

"I'm sorry about the paint smell— I waited until the other day to finally repaint in here, but you're always welcome to change the color." She says while walking over to the only window in my room that was on the wall by my bed. She pulled the blinds up and opened up the window and a nice gust of wind flowed through the room, making it a easier to breathe a bit.

"Nah, it's all good. I really appreciate the effort you put in for me." I smiled and she returned it, coming over to hug me for a second time. "I'm so happy to have my favorite cousin here with me!" She gushed and I chuckled, pulling away after a few moments. Growing up, Kori and I were literally attached at the hip. The both of us were only a year and four months apart, and since we were practically raised in the same house and we were the only children for some time, we didn't have much of a choice to be as close as we are.

When we were fourteen, her Mother, Myra, made the wise decision to move to New York because of some guy that she was so set on marrying and spending forever with. Not even six months later, my Aunt and the man had parted ways but Myra liked the city and the feelings it brought her so she stayed.

After the move, Kori would come back to Oakland during Spring, Winter and Summer breaks to spend time with her biological father and our grandparents, but after losing all of them, the visits stopped. Our mothers kept in touch, of course, but because of distance and our own lives, it made it hard for Kori and myself to do the same at that young age.

"Alright. I'm going to leave you alone so you can start getting unpacked and get some rest. Um— let's see..." She paused as she took a glance at her watch and continued, "It's just about 3 o'clock now and your shift doesn't start until 10, but we gotta get there a little earlier to prep for tonight, and you have a few things to learn so we'll head out around 8:30, 9 o'clock, yeah?" She says and I responded with a nod.