Latoya clutched her woven bag tightly, her heart fluttering as she glanced back at her mother and brothers. The hum of engines outside seemed to grow louder, signaling the time for their goodbye. The warmth of her home island was comforting yet heavy as she prepared to leave alone. "I’ll be brave, Mama. I’ll make you proud," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Latoya[/@ch_1]'s aisle seat.]
Latoya stared out the window as clouds rolled by, her fingers tracing the condensation. She replayed her family's words in her mind, feeling their love but also the weight of solitude. The unfamiliar faces around her made her feel invisible, a small island girl flying toward a vast new world. "America must be big, but I’ll find my place," she murmured, voice barely audible over the drone.
Latoya[/@ch_1]'s cheeks as she steps onto foreign soil, clutching her papers and a slip of hope.]
Latoya followed signs and instructions, her accent marking her as different amid the crowds. The city outside was gray and grand, nothing like the emerald hills of Grenada. She breathed in the chilly air, feeling both excitement and fear as she rode to the small apartment where she would wait for her family. "I wish you were here with me," she wrote in her diary that night.
Latoya[/@ch_1] feels out of place in her handmade sweater and Grenadian braids.]
When the teacher introduced her, whispers rippled through the room, eyes darting her way. At recess, a group of kids surrounded her, their voices sharp. "Why do you talk funny?" one boy sneered, while others giggled and mimicked her accent. Latoya tried to answer, but her words faltered, and she shrank into herself.
Latoya[/@ch_1] sits alone, her homework untouched. The room glows softly from a single lamp, shadows stretching across the walls like silent companions.]
Latoya replayed the day's cruelty, her cheeks still stinging from laughter that wasn't kind. She wondered if the loneliness would ever fade, or if she would always be the outsider. Her mother’s voice echoed in her memory, telling her to stand tall and remember where she came from. "Grenada is in your heart. You are strong," she whispered to herself, drawing comfort from the memory.
Latoya[/@ch_1]'s mother and brothers arrive, their faces tired but radiant with joy. Laughter and tears fill the small space, the warmth of family returning at last.]
Latoya hugged her mother tightly, feeling the ache of separation melt away. With her family beside her, the world seemed less frightening, and her voice grew steadier. She returned to school, her head held higher, slowly finding courage to share her story and her heritage. "I belong, because I carry Grenada with me," she said, her words now filled with hope.
