Angelica

(From the story of Jasmine)

(Began writing this section at approximately 5 AM on the morning of May 12th, 2026/ AM 5-12-2026)

A young roommate began to pull at the heartstrings of Jasmine, although she pestered Jasmine at times, an affection for this young girl softened the sometimes cynical Jazz.

Her first name was Angelica

(pronounced like ‘Jelly’ she’d say), she was quiet and slept on the top corner bunk above Yolanda. Angelica had curly black hair, it bounced about when she laughed. The bouncing curls made Jasmine smile, they were significant in the moments of each day.

Those moments lifted spirits, particularly ‘Jazz’ as she worried about ‘young Jelly’ as the girls referred to her. Angelica often responded to the nickname of endearment with a head bobbing rap, “I am young Jelly…. Yeah, that’s my name/ I say it with pride & not no shame”…. “Jelly. Jelly…. You heard me, Jelly, J-Jelly… that’s right I’m Jelly ..…”

Angelica liked trees, she often gathered the loose sticks that had fallen from the tree just outside Jasmine’s window. When she arrived to The Maria House she asserted that that tree was her best friend, this piqued the curiosity of Jasmine especially when Angelica gave the tree’s titled name: Joanne The Tall Tree

When Angelica first arrived she found a branch from the tree she had soon aptly named, Joanne. Jasmine similarly valued the tree and understood why Angelica latched on to the first branch she stumbled upon. Jasmine also leaned forward to listen as Angelica had insisted that this branch was a present from the tree for her.

Soon after noticing Angelica’s fond affection for this old oak branch, Jasmine folded tape and attached a lavender heart to the stick, watching as Angelica quietly climbed up to her corner bunk. Jasmine gazed over excitedly from as Angelica located and held up the stick with an open mouthed smile, while a twinkle lit up the mahogany eyes of this young child.

‘Young Jelly’ grasped ahold of the stick with her jaw agape and looked up at the ceiling.. “how about that?…” she muttered quietly.