Brown Sugaa

The End

The crowd dispersed slowly, leaving behind a scatter of dollar bills in Osiris's open guitar case. Egypt lowered her saxophone, her fingers trembling not from fear, but from the raw energy still coursing through her body. She hadn't felt this alive in years.

A little girl, no more than seven, tugged at her mother's hand.

"Mommy, can I learn to play like that?"

The moment hit Egypt hard. How many times had she done the same thing, dragging her own mother to music stores, begging for lessons? She knelt down to the girl's level.

"Keep that dream, little one. Music... it saves you in ways you'd never expect."

"Baby, you have to see this," Karma said, her voice filled with excitement as she held up her phone. The live stream she'd started had already garnered thousands of views, with comments pouring in faster than she could read them. People were sharing it, tagging friends, asking where they could hear more.

Is this real? Egypt thought, watching the numbers climb. Next to her, Osiris gathered the scattered bills, humming the melody they'd just played. The same melody their mother used to hum while cooking Sunday dinner.

"Over ten thousand views already," Karma whispered, wrapping her arms around Egypt's waist from behind. "They love you as much as I do. Well, almost."

Egypt leaned back into her embrace, letting the ocean breeze wash over them both. The moon painted everything in silver, turning the ordinary into something magical. Like her life right now, transformed by love, courage, and music.

"I can't believe this is real," Egypt whispered, her voice catching. "Mom would've loved this."

Osiris finished collecting the money and came to stand beside them.

"She's here, sis. That breeze carrying your music across the beach? That was all her." He paused, looking out at the waves. "Remember how she used to say music was God's way of dancing with us?"

Egypt nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat. She remembered everything about those days, the way her mother's hands moved when she conducted along to the radio, how her eyes crinkled at the corners when Egypt hit a perfect note, the warm smell of her perfume during their long talks about dreams and destiny.

A notification pierced the moment. Karma's phone chiming with a message from Ace.

"Um, speaking of destiny..." She showed them the screen. Ace had shared the livestream with Marcus Chen, the producer he'd been working with at Tidal Wave Records. The same producer who managed Rising Sun, the reggae band that had been topping charts lately.

"He wants to meet you," Karma squealed, bouncing on her toes. "Like, tomorrow! They're recording in Miami!"

Egypt felt her chest tighten, but this time it wasn't from anxiety. It was anticipation. Hope.

She looked down at her new saxophone, its brass gleaming in the moonlight. Four years ago, she'd thought her music had died with her trauma. But here it was, alive and stronger than ever, like a phoenix rising from the ashes of her fear.

"Play one more," Osiris said softly, already lifting his guitar. "For Mama."

Egypt raised her saxophone, letting her eyes drift closed. The first note floated across the beach, carrying all the words she wished she could have said to her mother. About healing. About love. About finding her way back to herself.

Osiris joined in, his guitar weaving through her melody like a gentle embrace. They played their mother's favorite song – "What a Wonderful World", but made it their own, infusing it with jazz runs and soulful improvisations that spoke of both loss and recovery.

Karma watched them, tears streaming down her face, as she recorded this moment too. This wasn't just music, it was prayer, confession, celebration.

When Egypt hit the final note, letting it soar over the waves, the remaining beachgoers burst into applause.

Standing up, Egypt reached for Karma's hand, then Osiris's. Together, they faced the ocean, letting the waves punctuate the moment. The moon painted a silver path across the water, stretching toward the horizon like an invitation to whatever came next.

"She was right," Egypt said, her voice stronger than she'd heard it in years, "Mom used to say that endings are just beginnings in disguise." She squeezed their hands. "I think I'm ready for my beginning."

Karma kissed her cheek, while Osiris wrapped an arm around her shoulders. The three of them stood there, watching the moonlight dance across the waves, each lost in thoughts of tomorrow. Egypt's fear of leaving her apartment felt like a distant memory now, replaced by the thrill of possibility.

As if on cue, a shooting star streaked across the sky.

"Make a wish," Karma whispered.

Egypt closed her eyes, but she didn't need to wish for anything. Everything she needed was right here: love, family, music, and the courage to embrace whatever came next. Her mother had given her the foundation, Karma had helped her find her way back to herself, and Osiris had never stopped believing in her.

The rest? Well, that would be another story.

"Hey," she said, picking up her saxophone case. "What do you guys think about Miami?"

Karma's eyes lit up, and Osiris laughed. "I'll get the RV started."

As they walked back across the beach, Egypt paused for one last look at the ocean. The wind carried the salt spray to her face, and for a moment, she could have sworn she heard her mother's laugh in the waves. She thought about the little girl who'd wanted to learn saxophone, about her own journey from that first note to now.

"Did you ever think we'd be here?" she asked Karma softly as they followed Osiris back to the RV.

"I knew from the moment I heard you play through our shared wall," Karma replied, squeezing her hand. "Some music is too beautiful to stay hidden."

In the distance, the city lights twinkled like earthbound stars. Tomorrow they'd head to Miami, toward a future full of possibilities she couldn't even imagine yet. But tonight, tonight was for remembering where she came from, who helped her get here, and most importantly, who she'd become.

"Thank you, Mama," she whispered to the night sky. "I'm flying now."

And she was.

Finally, truly free.

The End 😩🥹

I am so so so so sorry for the wait BUUUUTTTT .. I'm so happy to let yall know, I got a surprise comingggggg 😇👀🤭

See yall soon 🫶🏾
Lex