TO HAVE & HAVE NOT

5

Olivia

Are you wondering who I am? Well, I'll tell you what Google says about me.

My name is Olivia Moore, although I was born Aaliyah Hussain, a name that carries a tale of cultural intricacies and familial dynamics.

Growing up in the Bronx, New York, I shared a vibrant childhood alongside my younger sister - Amara, navigating the complexities of life in a bustling urban environment that was both challenging and fulfilling.

My father, a man of resilience, immigrated to the United States to escape the war that ravaged his homeland in the Middle East, and he built a life here as a doorman, a job that, though humble, was a pillar of stability for our family.

During his early years in New York, he met my mother, a stunning woman from a seemingly affluent family. Their love story, however, was anything but conventional; it blossomed in secrecy, marked by passion yet shrouded in the societal expectations that weighed heavily on my mother. When she discovered she was pregnant with me, their clandestine romance was thrust into the harsh light of reality.

My maternal family, upon learning of her pregnancy, imposed a heart-wrenching ultimatum: she had to choose between the life she had known and the uncertain yet profound path of motherhood. In a desperate bid to protect their burgeoning love and honor the life growing within her, my mother married my father, Omar. Their union, however, was fraught with tension and ultimately unraveled as my mother grappled with her identity and aspirations.

As the years went by, she found herself stifled by the life she had chosen, leading to a painful divorce that resulted in her relinquishing custody of my sister and me in a quest to reclaim her former life.

In elementary school, my music teacher held a parent-teacher meeting with my father to discuss my burgeoning musical talent, which heralded the beginning of an artistic journey destined for greatness.

Encouraged by my teacher's enthusiasm and my father's support, I eagerly joined the school choir, immersing myself in the world of harmonies and melodies, dreaming of one day becoming a musician. Every practice felt like magic as I learned to blend my voice with others, exploring the expressive power of song. I envisioned myself on stage, enveloped in the spotlight, with adoring fans hanging on every note. However, this vibrant chapter in my life was only a prelude, supporting my eventual discovery of acting.

At that time, the allure of music captivated me so completely that I unknowingly overlooked the budding passion simmering within for the dramatic arts. It wasn't until I had the chance to participate in a school play that I realized my true calling lay beyond the confines of melody; the thrill of embodying a character and conveying emotions through performance sparked a fire in me that music, for all its beauty, could not ignite. This revelation transformed my aspirations, making me realize that the world of acting offered a profound canvas upon which I could paint my deepest feelings and connect with others in a way that music alone could not.

My father, a dedicated single parent to my sister Amara and me, often had to juggle his work responsibilities while ensuring we were entertained and safe. This meant taking us to the office with him, where he would arrange for us to spend time in the break room. Equipped with a TV, the break room became our little haven, where we could lose ourselves in movies while our father attended to his tasks.

Captivated by the characters on screen, I began to mimic their gestures and deliver lines with all the enthusiasm I could muster, unaware that a passerby had taken notice of my antics.

After sharing his observation with my father, who initially dismissed the notion of me pursuing acting, I found myself pleading for an opportunity to prove my talent. Eventually, my father's resistance melted away under my persistence, and I auditioned for a part in a peanut butter commercial, where I made the cut.

To celebrate this milestone, my father treated Amara and me to our first Broadway show. As the curtains rose and the lights dimmed, I was utterly entranced; the energy of a live audience ignited a fire within me, making the world of film seem small and distant in comparison. From that moment on, I was determined to join this vibrant community.

Back at school, I eagerly joined the drama club, yet it still felt insufficient to satisfy my growing ambition. The thrill of live performance called to me. In my youthful exuberance, I began to sneak into various Broadway shows, craving to witness the magic of acting unfold before my eyes. Each clandestine visit reinforced my dream and steered me toward a future where I could stand on that stage one day, pouring my heart into every performance.

Author note: Thank you for the support on this new book so far. The next few chapters will be about Olivia because she is a made up character and I needed to develop her in hope you all would grow to love her as much as I have whilst creating her. ♥️ A WARNING - some chapters may be triggering to some and can contain mentions of Sex, Alcohol, Drugs, Blackmail and Sexual Assault.