Soulful Echoes

It Begins...

Picture this, three small town friends moving to the Big Apple to pursue their life long dreams. We made a pact at 14 years old, we will all move to New York together to kick start our careers. Almost 10 years later Kian, Armani, and I have officially made the move. April 21st we began our journey from Houston, Texas to Brooklyn, New York. It is now July 17th, a few days shy of my 24th birthday. 24 is starting to sound a little too close to 30 and 30 sounds so serious. Although I am nervous to turn 30, I got plenty of time before I get there.

My name is Kala Janelle King and I recently just finished my Masters of Social Work  program. I am now a licensed clinical social worker associate. After I finish a certain amount of hours under supervision and take my licensure exam, I will be fully licensed and can drop the associate! The overall goal is to have my own business, but as of now I work as a therapist for teens to young adults under the supervision of Dr. Liana Benson at Mind Over Matter LLC in the upper West side of Manhattan. Armani is a family physician assistant. Correction, she is the lead family physician assistant at a huge practice based in Manhattan. Armani is in school to become a family physician and already has a job offer to take over for the doctor she works under now. Talk about black excellence. Then there is Kian. Kian is a walking piece of art. Glistening golden brown skin, shiny white teeth, thick fro, and his smooth tone of voice. Not only is his looks art, his talent emulates his beauty. Kian creates realistic paintings of melanated people. Additionally, Kian creates underground trap soul music as a singer and producer. Kian has a spirit that creates a space for my spiritual being to be free of judgment and indulge in the world around it. Every week on Friday night, we meet at Into Wishin', a jazz lounge, on Bedford Ave and on Wednesday's we have "Tequila and Talk" nights. Tequila and Talk nights include three important things. Number 1: Tequila. Obviously. Number 2: Talking. Again, very obvious. We catch up on the latest drama in our lives, maybe even other lives. Number 3: Music. We each pick a song to play and exchange music to add to the playlist. Our favorite genre of music is Trap Soul and Neo Soul. Without any major responsibilities, we are able to spend quite some time together. Neither one of us are in relationships or have kids so we are able to move about as we wish.

Thursday 11:56 am

"Next week we will create a list of boundaries to establish with each important relationship in your life. Do not forget to do your homework! See you next week." I closed my computer screen and let out a deep sigh in anticipation for my hour and a half lunch break. Since 8 am, I have been having back to back hour long sessions with my clients with them all being in person except this last one. Today, I made the conscious decision to bring my own food so I can lay on my couch and watch Law and Order: Special Victims Unit for my entire lunch break. As I am setting up to get comfortable, my phone began to vibrate.

BDE💋: Good morning beautiful.

BDE💋: I need a session.

BDE💋: When you free?

Me: Now baby.

BDE is what you may call my "sneaky link". We are not together but he gets me together if you catch my drift. BDE name is Andrew. He strides through the room like a towering oak, his dark radiating warmth, and his laughter, a magnetic force that lights up the atmosphere. Charisma drips from his every word, a natural storyteller with a humor that dances like jazz, leaving everyone captivated in the rhythm of his charm. Andrew works at a law firm across the street from my office, which is how we ran into each other the first time. He talked and humored his way right into my pants. Two and a half months later and this has been a regular thing of ours. Within minutes, Andrew and I was speeding down the road on our way to his skyrise apartment in the heart of Manhattan. In the embrace of daylight, our bodies intertwin like a choregraphed ballet, framed by the expansive canvas of the city below. Sunlight filters through sheer curtains, casting a soft glow on our entangled limbs as we lose ourselves in the intimate poetry of connection, the bustling city serving as a silent witness to our passionate symphony. I laid on Andrew's chest making circles over his body with my finger tips.