by Tannika Nikeya

Valley Hills Apartments Series: The Diva pt 2 (Back Home)

Sometimes, the best wisdom comes from women who have walked through the valley and are still learning to keep their eyes on the hills. Welcome to our new series: Valley Hill Apartments!

Jas removed the last clip-in extension from her hair and stared at her reflection, a full head of curls framing her face. For a moment, she could almost see her younger self standing in the same bathroom, smoke curling from a hot comb as she fought humidity and prayed for a life far away from Valley Hills.

Back then, she thought escape meant freedom.

Now she understood: no matter how far you run, God has a way of bringing you exactly where you need to be.

A loud bang at the door shattered her thoughts.

“Jasmine Marie! Open this door!”

Jas froze. Only her mother used her full name.

She opened the door slowly, but her mother pushed inside anyway.

“You move back and don’t tell me?”

Jas admitted softly. “I didn’t know how to face everybody.”

Her mother crossed her arms. “Face us for what?”

Jas looked around the apartment, boxes stacked against worn walls.

“After Joseph died everything fell apart. I spent so much time running from grief, running from this place.” Her voice cracked. “But I think God brought me back for a reason.”

The anger left her mother’s face almost instantly.

“I told you a long time ago,” she said gently, pulling Jas into a hug. “You can always come back home.”

Outside, tenants had gathered beside the building around folding tables crowded with food and laughter. One by one, old faces recognized her.

“Jas?!”

“Girl, is that you?”

Then someone asked the question she’d been dreading.

“Where’s Joe?”

Jas swallowed hard and told them everything.

When she finished, nobody judged her. They prayed with her, hugged her, fed her, and promised to help restore the building together.

Tanya handed Jas a bowl of baked macaroni and cheese.

One bite in, warm and familiar, and for the first time in a long while… Jas felt home.

Accompanying Short Video: https://youtube.com/shorts/d1jH1b_j4Ew?si=acP3pGwqwkDaJmvz

05.08.26

by Tannika Nikeya

Valley Hills Apartments Series: Happy Mother’s Day!

Sometimes, the best wisdom comes from women who have walked through the valley and are still learning to keep their eyes on the hills. Welcome to our new series: Valley Hill Apartments!

This week, we will have no featured story or poem as it is Mother’s Day weekend. The writers and ladies of Valley Hills Apartments Series pray that you have a blessed and beautiful Mother’s Day.

We also send our sincere prayers up for those who have lost their children or who have lost their mothers.

05.01.26

by Tannika Nikeya

Valley Hills Apartments Series: A Poem For A Flower

Sometimes, the best wisdom comes from women who have walked through the valley and are still learning to keep their eyes on the hills. Welcome to our new series: Valley Hill Apartments!

A Poem for a Flower

Written by Tannika Nikeya

Hello, I am Rose. I moved to Valley Hills Apartments last year. In the middle of the night, I found myself hauling in bags of all I had managed to quietly take with me. And it wasn’t much at all.

Today, I sit here by my kitchen window, slowly sipping my hot chamomile tea. My eyes follow a cardinal, happily chirping along a tree, and then drift to a soft white flower sitting alone amidst the grass. I exhale a long sigh.

I wonder if the flower is lonely, like I had been.

I had once sat alone just as quiet as that little flower—but brokenhearted and lonely. I endured gaslighting and chaos, and felt every petal of my soul being stripped away until I became a shadow of myself.

But as I sit here in my kitchen, something shifts.

I begin to write a letter to a flower…

from the depths of my heart.

In the backyard all alone
Sitting in the mud and dirt
Among rocks and stone
Your leaves withered, withdrawn
Wishing you were placed
On a manicured lawn

The acknowledgments, the daily sustenance
You once received
Have dried up like your leaves
Your wardrobe is dull—renewal must begin within
You may not be the prettiest flower
Feeling like you are about to break, not just bend, in the wind

How long will you wait
For someone to water you to grow
To tell you to soar
To give you value
Just because they walked through nature’s door?

Stand tall—get up on your feet
Encourage yourself
Stretch in hope
You’ve got goals to meet
Air to breathe
Rooms to impact
You don’t have to shrink
Let the sunlight hit your face
And take your joy back

Your worth is not predicated
On what they say, see, or do
No one can validate
Or invalidate you

You’ve known seasons of hiding
Of feeling like you died
Until the true Lover of your soul
Breathed—and brought you back alive

You’ve lost hope
Wanted to run away
But you learned to be still
When noise and storms surrounded you
He quieted you and you began to heal

They said you had no value
Said you wouldn’t last long
Said other flowers were prettier
And although you felt weak, you remained strong

The trees whispered about you;
They gave you a different type of shade,
Shifted their leaves so the heat can make you weary and fade

But you are not doomed
Look up to heaven
Receive your true Lover’s grace to bloom

It’s not over
Life is just starting
He stays close
To the brokenhearted

Each day you rise—just walk
At your pace
Wipe your face
Rest… yield
Dance in the field
And brighten the day
Let the birds see your resilience in every way.

They may stop to admire you
Take in your view
But remember who you are
Deep within you

Some may try to pluck you
Or take you along
But stay rooted
Remain where you belong

Even when others walk away
Stand still; know you’re divine
Humble posture
Fearfully and wonderfully made
You are His design
Continue to grow in His perfect time

Sis, there is courage within you.
See yourself the way God does.
Your worth is not determined by others.
He deemed you worthy before He placed you in your mother’s womb.
So show up today… and begin to bloom.

Contributing Video: https://youtu.be/sJ5Us3_T7yU

04.24.26

by Tannika Nikeya

Valley Hills Apartments Series: The Diva Pt 1

Sometimes, the best wisdom comes from women who have walked through the valley and are still learning to keep their eyes on the hills. Welcome to our new series: Valley Hill Apartments!

The Diva pt 1

Written by Saneatra Polk

Jas Monroe closed her eyes and replayed the memory of her husband leaning in, pressing a kiss to her forehead. For a moment, she could smell his cologne, feel the warmth of him.

Then the water turned cold.

Reality snapped back fast. Jas stood alone in a shower that couldn’t even hold its heat, staring up at the same popcorn ceiling she used to pray her way out of. She had seen the world, lived in luxury and somehow landed right back at Valley Hills Apartments.

She cried, “God, why am I back?”

She wrapped her robe tight and stormed into the hallway.

“Excuse me, have you seen the maintenance man?”

The woman posting a flyer turned, studying her. Head tilted as she was trying to recall something. “Diva?”

Jas blinked. No one had called her that in years.

“I’m Tanya,” the woman said, smiling like she’d just solved a puzzle. “Saw you pull up—black car, big coat, all that hair. I said, yeah, she a diva. But you live here?”

Jas recognized the woman from decades ago. Tanya and her family lived in 3B. Same eyes. Same voice. Same building.

“Yeah,” Jas said, quieter this time.

Tanya handed her the flyer. “The landlord was the maintenance man and we haven’t seen or heard from him in months. The building is falling apart and we’re organizing.”

Jas took it, avoiding her gaze, and slipped back inside her apartment.

There were boxes everywhere. She opened one at random. It had her husband’s navy blue khakis and matching navy blue button up shirt in it. A man who built millions and lived simply. A man who would hate what this place had become and what she had done trying to outrun grief.

She didn’t come back to Valley Hills by choice.

But as she looked around, something shifted. The question wasn’t echoing anymore—it was answered.

Jas stood, gripping the flyer.

“Okay,” she said softly. “I understand.”

Tonight, she would tell them everything.
She wasn’t just back.

She was here to rebuild.

Sis, stay tuned for pt 2! If you are enjoying this series so far, please like, share, and subscribe.

Video Snippet: https://youtube.com/shorts/p10TD4nrark?si=lej0vJCTTd0BYXFV

04.17.26

by Tannika Nikeya

Valley Hills Apartments Series: Sleeping With My Sister’s Man

Sometimes, the best wisdom comes from women who have walked through the valley and are still learning to keep their eyes on the hills. Welcome to our new series: Valley Hill Apartments!

Sleeping With My Sister’s Man

Written by Deandrea Moore

Her name was Carmen. She was beautiful on the outside and in–a homegirl to men and women. Men found her attractive and intriguing, but never knew what to do with her, so they always opted for the route of using her. They treated her like a shiny trophy, something to be won and placed on a shelf to collect dust. A thing that’s value was wrapped in bragging rights. Carmen had a habit of being picky while simultaneously being an expert in picking wrong. It was something she had down to a science. It was like they had a sixth sense that let them know that she didn’t really value herself or have high standards. Although, she was a master of ‘faking it til you make it.’

So here comes this guy showing interest in her and at first Carmen plays it cool, hard to get. She tries to ignore him and mind her own business. He’s persistent, cool, and collected. So he not only catches, but holds her attention. This was a big deal considering sometimes her attention span could be short. She decides to give him a chance. They start having more conversations which leads to them hanging out. After a few times of hanging out they eventually open the door to adult activities. Now she’s in what one would call a trance–a state of delusion if you will. It’s got her thinking she likes him more than she actually does. She’s ignoring red flags and not thinking clearly. The door they opened had different things waiting on the other side. For him it was the feeling of uninterest after getting what he wanted.

For her it was heartbreak, especially because he’ll give up on true pursuit and never get to know how truly special she is. So since he never had real intentions for her and her self-esteem was down by the river, he treats her like a secret. Lucky for him she can keep it. Mind you there’s nothing wrong with Carmen. She just didn’t value herself enough to make him commit and claim her. So she lets him get away with treating her like that.

Now this is where things get sticky. The whole time she’s sleeping with him she’s unaware that this man is actually her sister’s. Knowing her even if she knew it was her sister’s man her thought process would probably be: “What would you have me do? I was sleeping with him before I knew about you. I mean you’ve got eyes, you can see. You know what he looks like. Plus, I didn’t chase him, he chased me.” Silly logic, I know. It makes sense to someone though. It made sense to Carmen. She wouldn’t care that it was her sister’s man. Getting her needs met and having her ego stroked were much higher on her priority list. And you wouldn’t be able to tell her this man wasn’t hers–delusion had already settled in. Him leaving her with forehead kisses only sealed her delusion. What her sister didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her anyway.

I’ll let you in on one more thing: Carmen’s sister wasn’t related by way of biology. They didn’t share a parent of any sort. She was her sister-in-Christ. The same God died for both their sins, so that made them kin. Carmen’s ‘sister’ hadn’t even found the man yet. That didn’t matter though. God never intended for them to get together. That was somebody else’s husband. Her husband was out there somewhere, but God wanted her to wait and save herself for him. Many of us are out here moving like Carmen. We don’t value ourselves or our bodies, so we allow men access that wasn’t truly earned. Opening doors that are harder to close than we think. We are sleeping with our sister’s man and delaying the process of not only the man meant for us to find us, but of him finding our sister. Once Carmen understood this she could navigate dating with intention and think of herself as something precious–to be treasured and stewarded over.

Sis, navigate dating with intention and remember that you are precious. Trust that you are not meant to be hidden, borrowed, or confused with someone else’s place. What God has for you will be clear, covered, and committed.

Video Snippet: https://youtube.com/shorts/FiYDaiiW-h4?si=o3RPEfjSfDhAgtrc

04.10.26

by Tannika Nikeya

Valley Hills Apartments Series: Come See About Me

Sometimes, the best wisdom comes from women who have walked through the valley and are still learning to keep their eyes on the hills. Welcome to our new series: Valley Hills Apartments!

Come See About Me
Written by Tannika Nikeya

“I’ve been crying
‘Cause I’m lonely (For you)
Smiles have all turned to tears
But tears won’t wash away the fears
That you’re never ever gonna return
To ease the fire that within me burns…”

“Come see about me”

My name is Amani and I just moved into Valley Hill Apartments. My mother used to play music every Saturday. It motivated her through mopping the floors, washing our laundry, and cooking Sunday dinner. But the song she sang along to the loudest was “Come See About Me” by the Supremes. I often wondered if she reminisced about good times with my dad, but the times I witnessed were not so good.

Today, that song popped up in my mind and I began to sing it just as loud as she once did. I sat in my oversized lounge chair with my cup of tea looking out of the window of my small apartment with unpacked boxes.

I find myself in a new place, in a new city, but I am still lost. I am tired. I am carrying mountains of debt. I owe myself exponentially. I am stressed. I have health issues for which my doctor apathetically prescribed pills I can’t even pronounce. And in fact, I need more medicine, the kind that only one doctor can prescribe. I sip my tea, breathing heavily through my nostrils reflecting on how no one wants to help me or even let me rest on their shoulders. But after all, no one knew I was hurting, mad, disappointed, in need. I always keep my mouth shut and regurgitate, “I’m fine.”

I made myself invisible so others could be seen, time after time. After all, I am to be seen and not heard, but somehow my toxic trait said, “go a little deeper and not be seen at all.” After all, you don’t want to be perceived as prideful. So, I refused help—thinking they would like me more.

I live in purpose and I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished, but I realized some of my achievements were starting to adorn my worth like a heavy gold chain around my neck. Then, one day, an old lady reminded me that my worth isn’t predicated upon what I do or the titles I bear. She reminded me that I am already valuable–fearfully and wonderfully made. I inhale, then I exhale.

I glance once more around my apartment. I may not have it all figured out. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed and tired because I keep trying to lift loads all on my own, without wisdom and in my own strength. And sometimes I think I have to keep moving without resting, feeling and being. I instinctively pick up my cell phone. “Call Lina,” I command. I need to check on my sister.

“Are you okay?” I ask. We end our conversation with a plan to meet up for lunch at a restaurant with our favorite food we enjoyed as little girls. I hang up the phone and tap the reverse button in the camera, flipping it to face me.

And I can hear the woman clearly as she stares back at me through the lens.

“Come see about me,” she sings with all her heart, trying her best to imitate the pitch of the lead singer of the song.

“I hear you just as clear as I hear the rain tapping on my window,” I compassionately inform her.

With hope and with clarity, I respond further: “I see you. I will love you as I love others. I will not neglect you. This next season is yours.”

Sis, stop trying to pour from an empty cup. It’s okay to see about you too. When you do, you show up to your God-given arenas more authentic, more capable, more grateful, and fully present.

Video Snippet: https://youtube.com/shorts/3-L3b65pdIQ?si=xsRQNJqjhaO4057w

Thank you for coming along this new series and stay tuned for next week’s story or poem!

04.03.26

by Tannika Nikeya

Introducing Valley Hills Apartments

Hey Loves,

Here is a new series for a new season!

In this new series, the ladies of Valley Hills Apartments share pieces of their lives through short stories, prose, and poetry.
Some moments may make you laugh.
Some may make you pause and reflect.
And each piece will leave you with a little encouragement.

Because sometimes the best wisdom comes from women who have walked through the valley and are still learning to keep their eyes on the hills.

Come on in and meet the ladies of Valley Hills Apartments!

Disclaimer: These short stories and poems are works of creative expression, written by writers, Tannika Nikeya, Deandrea Moore, and Saneatra Polk, and are intended to inspire and encourage young ladies and women. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events is purely coincidental.

Additionally, this series includes AI-generated visuals used for presentation, created by Tannika Nikeya, Saneatra Polk, and Deandrea Moore.