MIRAGE

M2 "Sierra Leone"

8:07 pm - 4/10/17 - ATL,GA

The end of the week came, bringing in Solace's going away dinner party, that only her immediate family would be attending. Her sisters met at her mother's home in comfy clothing, awaiting their mother's exquisite culinary. "Ain't these all of Lacey's favorite foods?" Aaliyah, Solace's second oldest sister questioned as she peeked around the kitchen. They were roughly 8 months apart, which made them grow up sort of like twins due to their closeness in age.

"Yep—nobody else put in any requests." Keri answered while cutting the stove off. The family's dinner consisted of pot roast over rice, served with homemade dinner rolls,and cabbage. One of Solace's favorite meals that her mother made, mostly because it screamed Sunday dinner. The aroma of the hearty meal brought back memories of many Sunday dinners that the family had throughout the years, specifically those during Autumn and Winter.

Being around her family almost made her forget about what was currently going on in her life. Her sisters kept a laugh falling her mouth and a smile on her face. The unison of her family almost made her regret her decision, but she didn't want to be the youngest child who lived for everybody else but herself. "Y'all wanna take a shot?" Celine, Solace's oldest sister questioned. Even without an answer she grabbed the bottle of 1942 and poured 4 shots.

"To new beginnings." Solace voiced, extending her shot toward her family's. "New beginnings." They followed, knocking shot glasses before downing the shot of tequila. Solace immediately grabbed her chaser and followed the bitter alcoholic beverage with the sweetness of pineapple juice.

"I'm moving to LA." Solace announced, figuring to spit out the news now that everybody had liquid courage in their system. Her family looked at her as if a record stopped and scratched, confusion and shock was written all over their faces. "LA?" Aaliyah questioned as she grabbed her chaser and took a swig.

Solace shook her head yes, confirming what she announced. "I'm gonna go and focus on my music career...see if it does me any good." She explained.

"You knew about this, mommy?" Celine questioned, turning to their mother who was plating everyone's food. Keri shook her head yes before grabbing the ceramic plate that was next in her assembly line. "I wanted her to tell y'all herself." She replied. Her sisters turned back to her with looks of somber on their faces.

"Well...if that's what you wanna do, who are we to stop you?" Celine spoke while pulling her little sister into a very much needed hug. "I leave in two days." Solace announced, feeling the need to put everything on the floor.

"Two days?" Celine exclaimed as she pulled away. "I'm just ready for a new start...I been in Atlanta all my life, even after we travel the world, it's always back to Atlanta—I hate it." Solace argued. Celine sighed as if she knew exactly where her sister was coming from.

"I plan to give it 6 months." Solace added while taking a seat at the table, alongside her sisters. "Don't put no time limit on your dreams—stay as long as you feel is needed." Aaliyah replied. The conversation was halted as the family joined hands in prayer over their Sunday dinner. The short prayer was lead by their mother, who not only prayed over the food but over Solace during her voyage and her children as a whole, in true preacher's kid fashion.

"I know, but I don't wanna keep pouring into something that ain't pouring into me." Solace replied, starting the conversation back up. "I love music, but it ain't paying the bills right now." She added. Music wasn't her sole income, though she longed for it to be. Right now, she was using her social media platform to gain income by promoting businesses using the little bit of clout from both her former music group and proximity to nepotism.

"Anything worth havin' at all, is worth workin' for and waitin' for." Celine chimed in, quoting one of their favorite songs, causing them to lightly chuckle in unison. If anybody understood her, it was definitely Celine. She was an artist as well, whose music was still a hidden gem. Both sisters had voices that the world needed to hear, but couldn't quite break the algorithm to do so.