The lobby area of the rehab center is buzzing with the noisy chatter of parents and their children. Today is a huge celebration, teenagers, and young adults graduate from their programs including myself. It's not like a high school graduation where you walk across the stage and they hand you a sheet of paper. No, that would be strange.
"Congratulations, so and so for graduating from alcohol abuse. Or from obsessive-compulsive disorder."
Airing that out is also considered a breach of confidentially and no one wants to be put in the spot for why they were here in the first place. I know I do not, even though some might see what I am or was here for as a minimum issue.
"Nubia, come on so we can take a picture." My father calls waving me over.
Grateful that my name does not start with a Z like my other sisters names do. We are all a year apart and I enjoy our sisterly bond. I amble from the buffet table to my family. When my mother was pregnant with me, she was heavily into the Egyptian culture and wanted to name me something that would remind her of it.
We are a mix of different colors with me being the darkest and Zaida being the lightest.
Zaida is the oldest at 18 years old, a soft coffee brown when you put cream in it. 810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfxlgz5YwV
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Myself, I am the middle at 17 years old, a dark chocolate color and I am a little shy when it comes to my skin color.
Zakia is the youngest at 16 years old, a chocolate brown and she loves to show off her skin by wearing short skirts and tight low cut shirts.
My mother and I stand behind Zakia and Zaida with our hands on our hips.
"Alright. On three," My father aims his digital camera. "One...two...three."
We all smile as the flash on the camera blinds me. I rub my eyes to make the small dots colorful dots go away.
"Are you ready to go home, Nubia?" My counselor walks up to me. She has been a huge help during my six-month stay here.
"I really am. I will be able to sleep in my own bed." I joke.
"I know that's right." She pulls me in an unexpected hug and squeezes me tight. I hug her back as she says, "Be safe, Nubia." She lets go.
"I will."
She walks away and two girls amble up to me with their arms linked together. "We're going to miss you, Nubia."
"I will miss you too, Cindy and Joy." We hug each other. Other than my counselor, these two girls have helped me the most. They were there when I felt like giving up and making an attempt again, but they stayed positive with me.
Cindy is a peach colored girl with blue eyes, brown long, bone straight hair, and a round face. She is a little on the husky side.
Joy is a mocha colored girl with brown eyes, curly short black hair, and an oval shaped face. She's more slender.
"You are going to call us to check on us, aren't cha?" Joy asks in her baby-like tone.
"I promise." We hug again.
"Alright, Nubia. Let's ride out." My father says in a husky dramatic tone.
"Okay. Bye, Joy and Cindy." I wave as I follow my family out.
"Bye bye." They wave back. 810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalcsjET21K
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We arrive at a house that I am not familiar with. Everyone gets out and leaves me, I eventually get out of the car and stare at the unique octagonal home. Zaida comes back outside and stands beside me. She too begins to stare at the house.
"It is odd, ain't it?" Zaida tilts her head.
"Yes. What happened to our old house? Why did we move?"
"I am not sure. I guess daddy needed a change. But, I heard mama saying she wanted her dream house built. I guess this is it."
"I see."
"No."
I glance at my sister sideways. "No?"
"You have not seen anything until you have been inside." She takes my hand. "Come on."
We take off inside.
It is also an octagonal shape inside as well. Zaida gives me the tour of where everything is. We eventually get to a door with my name in foam letters across it. My room is next to Zaida's room and Zakia's room is downstairs. There are still some unpacked boxes but it is a nice house.
"What do you think so far?" Zaida walks around my room and checks out a few things.
"It is really pleasant. I guess I just have to get use to it." I sit on my queen-sized bed.
"Yeah, you can get dizzy here but we are the only ones in this neighborhood who has a house like this." Zaida is all for being different. I am as well but it depends on the situation at hand.
"Right." I smile.
Zaida shrugs her shoulders, "That's got to count for something, right?"
"It does."
"Well, I will let you get settled in and will talk to you later."
"Okay."
Zaida goes to her room and closes the door.
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