Walkin through the vibrant streets of Harlem, NY, felt like steppin into a different realm. You hadn't seen yo childhood bestfriend since yall were both 7, each of yall spiraling into different orbits yet somehow remainin tethered to this neighborhood, yall shared cradle of memories. Now, at 17, the thought of bumpin into Dd was as thrillin as it was inevitable, especially since you was headin to the deli a spot that had been yall playground of sorts, filled wit after-school escapades & shared secrets.

The familiar jingle of the push-and-pull door greeted you as you entered, the scent of fresh bread & coffee mingling wit the air. It was a familiar laugh that caught yo attention, a sound that had been etched into yo memory, resonant wit the echoes of yall shared past. For a moment, you hesitated, unsure if the past was callin out to you or if it was just yo mind playin tricks. Wit a heart beating rhythm of anticipation, you veered into the snack aisle, yo mind now a whirl of possibilities.

As fate would have it, a step back had you bumping into someone. You braced for a whole petty argument, the automatic "Watch where you steppin, dawg." But it never came. Instead, there was a pause, a hitch in the moment before it unfolded into sum unexpected. Dd stopped mid-sentence, his apology hangin in the air as recongnition dawned on him. When yall eyes met it was as if no time has passed, yet a decade had distilled into this singular, heart-stopping pause.

The smile that spread across his face was one you'd never forgotten, lighting up his features in a wah that brought back a flood of memories. "Ian seen yo ass in a hot minute. So, that's what we doin now? Just leavin each otha high n' dry lik dat?" Dd teased, the familiar warmth of his voice wrappin around you like a welcome embrace.

@𝐕𝐑𝐎𝐘𝐒𝐂𝐓𝐑𝐋