A day like any other is what was on my mind
I stepped out of the house into the blinding sunshine
Bag over shoulder, I proceeded down the street
Seeing all these people who I didn’t want to meet
They speakin’ but mama said “Don’t make a peep”
I step into the school, drop my bag on the floor
They scan me up and down, then I’m free
Go further more
I’m standing at my locker and today’s a normal day
I glance to my left and see what’s walkin’ my way
A girl outta place
What gives her away is her race
The whole flow stops
This girl cannot really exist
Eyes on the ground, she’s thinkin’ similar to this
The place is quiet; there’s absolutely no noise
No rappin’ from the boyz
No gum smackin’ from the gurlz
This is something that is gonna rock the teacher’s worlds
I sit on down in class and she sits right next to me
This can’t be happenin’; a cruel joke from her family
This has to be punishment
You have to do the time in a place that’s filled with crime
That’s not funny
Cuz they puttin’ her life on the line
Destroy her future, pay the price
That’s a tearful sacrifice

A risk
To be ridiculed by friends
My reputation’s end, but to help hers begin
I’m glad my mom’s named me, “Cassie”
That woman has common sense, to name me something like this
So I’d have a get a job regardless
Fearful at first she was
Then showed me the same respect and love
“Shela”
I thought funny as hell, started laughin’ to myself
Shela joined in a s well
Inseperatable
From that day she was my gurl
We were from two very different worlds
And we taught each other

Our friendship
It woulda lasted a life
If I didn’t think twice
Bout my hood that caused many families strife
Add one more fatality to the fight
Cuz on that day
the bullets came flyin’ our way
From every direction was the spray
And I blame myself to this very day
Cuz when the fire had finally ceased
I glanced over at an empty seat
On the ground layin’ cross my feet
Starring at me with eyes that couldn’t see
My sista Shela was taken from me
Deprived of her life, I couldn’t believe

Another punishment
She shouldn’t have been hangin’ wit me
Cuz on that same day,
she’d been invited to the beach
To forget about me
But she kicked it wit me now she’s buried six feet
And I’m left grievin’ for me
Cuz all my life we’ve always blamed them
When all of this time,
In our own house;
Raisin’ our kids;
Puttin’ food in their mouth;
Sleepin; in our beds
and grievin’ our dead
There was something more primitive
Something more strange,
Something so vast, but all has a name
…you