IN BETWEEN

WELCOME TO NEW YORK

The second Raina stepped off the bus, the noise hit her like a wave.

Car horns, shouting. Music blasting from somewhere unseen. The smell of street food mixed with the sharp scent of city smoke.

New York City.

It wasn't like the movies It was

Louder. Faster. Realer.

Imani's eyes were wide "Girl....we are not in Baltimore anymore."

Raina clutched her suitcase like it might disappear. "No,.... we're not."

Taxis zoomed past. People weaved through the crowd without so much as a glance.

Everybody here seemed like they had somewhere important to be and something important to do.

Raina and imani? They just wanted to find their new home so that they can finally place down their aching bones and heads.

"Where to Misses" The rough voice of an Uber driver brought them back to reality.

"Harlem 145th street, please" Raina mumbled to the driver after checking through her letter.

"Sure, hop in"

Immediately they entered the yellow coloured taxi, the driver ignited the car and "welcome to New York" by Taylor swift started playing on the radio as the driver sang to the lyrics of the song drumming his fingers on the steering.

"I guess I should adjust to noise if I have to live here, " Raina thought as she leaned against the car seat and closed her eyes