I'm up ... it's 11:05 am. I don't remember falling asleep though. I look beside me and there is my trusted buddy Robyn. She's also up but she's too cozy in the covers too get out. I get out and dash to the loo ... what a relief. I walk into the living room and all I see are bodies. Bodies on the couches, bodies on the carpet bodies on the tiles. Everyone is so cozy. I barely know these people and they serenade me with a warm and loving "hello Queen". Right at that moment I was touched.

You see my friend Bubbles invited me over for the weekend to her place. Her cousin’s boyfriend was having his sweet 16th party. At first I was a bit skeptical about the scenario. Firstly I was BLACK and her family was COLOURED. I was so afraid to feel left out ... to feel and look different amongst her people. Secondly a sweet 16th ??? I'm 19 and trust me I will stand out with a bunch of puberty infested kiddies no offence. And then I realised that that was supper offensive. So I thought this one out ... I am not prejudice so I won't have a problem being around her people ... I was going to look at it as a learning experience.

The minute we got to Bubbles home I was welcomed with such Charisma. Her father was such an overwhelming character. There was a moment where I legit pulled back and observed how loving this family was.

The souls of laughter vibrated in my heart. Not once did they exclude me from their conversations and side jokes.

When we got to her cousins place ... YOH! I was home. We had drinks with the ladies while discussing her sister’s wedding. While I was sitting amongst these women I picked up on how I was not once neglected. Now and then they checked up on me to see if I was alright. I felt lekker special!

So I overcame her family now I had to face the party. I must admit in the beginning I was KAK scared but towards the end of the night I was grooving with these people as if I've known them forever! I remember telling Robyn how uncomfortable and out of place I felt. Man I was stressing for nothing. These people did not even care.

Then it hit me. People are people. It doesn't really matter who you are, where you’re from and what you look like we are all the same. We have hearts, we love, we hurt, we cry, we laugh. All these barriers we put them out ourselves. We decide that it matters if we look different.

I don't know about y'all but I had an eye opening experience. I learnt so much from stepping out of my comfort zone. I had nothing to lose and look at how much more I gained.

One Love | Queenie