Aylin sat in the studio booth, scribbling notes in her music notebook. She was fine-tuning a song she had written last year about her daughter Amaia's dad, reflecting on their relationship. The hum of the studio felt familiar, almost comforting, as she prepared to bring new life to her lyrics.
"Hey Cardi, we gotta get started soon, but we've got some beats we want you to listen to!" Becky, the producer, called out, snapping Aylin from her reverie. Aylin smiled and nodded, adjusting her headphones. "Alright, I'm ready. Let's hit it!" She felt a surge of excitement, the adrenaline coursing through her veins as she hit play.
As the beat dropped, Aylin's face scrunched in disapproval. "No." Four more beats played before she found the rhythm that resonated with her soul. "Alright, just give me a signal when you're ready for me to start," Becky said, her enthusiasm evident. Aylin took a deep breath, letting the music wash over her.
"Look, I just want to break up all your shit, call your mama phone Let her know that she raised a bitch, then dial tone, click." Aylin rapped softly into the mic, her voice smooth yet powerful, igniting the room. The door swung open as the woman she talked to on the phone, along with her sister, walked in.
"And fuck your little fake-ass friends Come around actin' like they my bros I seen y'all little group texts." Aylin poured her energy into every word, her eyes closed, feeling the beat pulse through her. In this moment, she felt invincible.
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After finishing half the song, she opened her eyes to a wave of proud smiles. "You sound wonderful!" Treasure yelled, a wide grin plastered across her face as she clicked the talk button on the soundboard. "Thank you," Aylin replied, laughter bubbling up as she stepped out of the booth.
"So, are you gonna sign?" Giselle asked, a glimmer of hope in her gaze. Aylin exchanged a quick glance with Treasure before affirming, "Yeah." A shy smile graced her lips. "This is great. I have the papers right here," Giselle said, pulling out a folder accompanied by a pen. Aylin took a moment to let the significance of the moment settle in before signing where instructed.
"You're officially a part of Empire," Giselle announced with excitement, and just then, Becky appeared with a bottle of champagne, ready to celebrate Aylin's big career leap. Bubbles fizzed over the top as they cheered, laughter and excitement echoing in the studio.
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Later that evening, Aylin stirred dinner in her kitchen, her heart still racing from the day's events. "You know I'm really doing this for my kids," she told Treasure, who was digging into a bag of chips.
"I know! And girl, you're already killing it with your first song!" Treasure replied, grinning around a mouthful of chips.
"Girl, please don't eat all those chips! I do not want to hear Aaron's mouth," Aylin teased, cutting chicken loudly, the knife clanging against the cutting board.
"I won't, I swear!" Treasure said but continued munching, causing Aylin to glare playfully.
"Where's Aaron, anyway?" Treasure asked, swallowing her food.
"I don't know," Aylin replied, seasoning her chicken before she checking the boiling noodles. "He said he was hanging out with friends after school, but it's been hours. He should be back by now."
As if on cue, a knock echoed through the house. Aylin sighed, wiping her hands on a towel. "Can you watch this while I go answer this door for this boy?" she asked Treasure, who nodded earnestly, moving around the island to keep an eye on the food.
"Yeah, I got it!"
Aylin walked to the door, prepared to scold her son for forgetting his key again. "Boy, did you forget your key aga—" Her words caught in her throat as she swung the door open.
Standing there was a figure shrouded in shadows but unmistakably familiar. Her heart raced as she locked eyes with him—a face from her past, a life she thought she had left behind.
"What are you doing here?" Aylin breathed, shock and disbelief washing over her.
The moment hung in the air, thick with tension and unresolved feelings, leaving Aylin caught off guard as she stared into the past she had tried so hard to move on from, unsure of what would come next.
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