Zahra's New Power

Zahra sat on the edge of her bed, knees pulled to her chest, listening to the hum of late-night traffic outside her apartment window. It was the same noise she’d heard all year, but tonight it felt louder, like the world was moving forward while she stayed stuck in place.

She thought about Jaden. The way he walked out after their final argument, the way she told herself she didn’t care… until the silence proved she did. She thought about Brian, her cousin who used to brighten every family gathering, whose sudden passing left a hole too heavy for words. And she thought about school; the last quarter of her senior year slipping through her fingers like sand, her mind too exhausted to keep up. Her parents’ disappointment echoed louder than any lecture hall.

Regret pulsed in her chest like a second heartbeat.

She didn’t hear the knock at first. Great Aunt Luna, wrapped in her usual lavender scarf, stepped inside without waiting for an invitation. “Child,” she said softly, lowering herself into the chair across from Zahra, “you’re carrying too many ghosts on your back.”

Zahra’s throat tightened. “I messed everything up this year.”

Aunt Luna nodded, but not in judgment. “Regret is a teacher, not a prison sentence.”

Zahra blinked, surprised by the gentleness in her voice.

“You loved Jaden the best way you knew how at the time,” Luna continued. “You grieved Brian because he mattered. And you broke under pressure because you’re human, not unshakable stone. None of that makes you unworthy of the life you want next.”

Zahra looked down at her hands. “But what do I do with all this… weight?”

Aunt Luna leaned forward, her voice low and certain. “You turn it into fuel. Every tear, every mistake, every slammed door, use it. Shape a new season with it. Regret only has power if you stop moving. You, Zahra, are not done moving.”

For the first time in months, Zahra exhaled a breath that didn’t hurt.

Outside, the night hummed with possibility. And for once, she didn’t feel left behind. She felt like the next season might finally be hers to build.

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About Kiyaza:

Kiyaza the Poet is a multifaceted author and creative whose work bridges poetry, design, and self-discovery. In her book Lost Between the Sheets, she invites readers into her intimate journey through relationships, friendships, and the layered experiences of life as a Black woman.

Beyond her literary voice, Kiyaza channels her artistry into Water Lily Studios, a design platform of journals and planners, where she encourages reflection, creativity, organization, and self-sufficiency in everyday life.

Her latest creation, Poetry in Bloom, is a collection of handmade, framed poems adorned with pressed flowers, celebrating beauty, resilience, and the art of storytelling.

Kiyaza’s writing focuses on the raw and reflective journey of self-discovery while exploring love, loss, healing, and growth through the lens of a millennial Black woman. 

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Connect with Kiyaza! 

Email: createdbyzakiya@gmail.com

Instagram: @kiyazawrites

Website: www.zakiyacreates.com  

Book: Lost Between the Sheets vol. 1 : https://a.co/d/6PaU3bV