Chapter 1: The Hush of Departure**

The Caribbean sun bathed the small community in a golden

hue, casting long shadows on the vibrant streets bustling with

life. In the modest home, the air was thick with scents of

spices and salt. Five young sisters gathered in the living room,

their faces bright with wonder, yet clouded by an

undercurrent of anxiety they could not express. Their mother,

a majestic figure with flowing dreadlocks and an indomitable

spirit, had made choices that crackled with potential and peril.

**Karis** felt trapped between her mother’s vibrant chaos and

the fear of the unknown. The eldest sister at just twelve, she

was forced to take on the role of protector. Her heart ached

with the burden of responsibility as the sounds of packing

filled the air, her mother’s rebellious laughter ringing hollow

against the gravity of their impending separation.

**Elle**

, the nurturer, clutched a worn-out teddy bear. It was

the only remnant of their childhood that reminded her of

home, despite the uncertainty looming ahead. She felt the

weight of expectation; what if she couldn’t hold the family

together?

**Shaya**

, the dreamer, often lost herself in vivid daydreams

of the life that lay ahead—a world where pain could be masked

by adventure, where she could escape the confines of their

mother’s choices.**London** fidgeted nervously, her