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

Come See About Me
Written by Tannika Nikeya

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!

“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.