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⇲ 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓 𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐃𝐀𝐋𝐄 〉 𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐀 ! XXXX. ✿CIRCA MAY 2012. 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐃 METRO BOOMIN & JAMES BLAKE. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
The warm dusk settled over Fort Lauderdale, casting a golden hue across the neighborhood as Odette Monroè made her way up the familiar walkway toward her home.
The music thumped softly through her silver headphones, wrapping her in a melody that seemed to pull her mind elsewhere, like a private world all her own.
Her voice slipped out in delicate hums and low notes, honey-smooth and soothing, as she absentmindedly sang along to the lyrics, letting the melody wrap around her like armor.
A breeze teased at the hem of her olive-green fitted jacket, the tie detailing at her waist swaying as she adjusted the headphones, tilting her head to the rhythm. Her black lace-up shorts clung to her comfortably, while the chunky black platform sandals added an edge to her steps, the star cutouts catching bits of light with each stride.
Odette's nails—glossy black acrylics adorned with delicate pink bows rested idly on the strap of her bag as she pushed open the door.
She barely made it past the entryway before she caught sight of her mother, Lorraine, standing in the middle of the living room, arms crossed and gaze as steady as a hawk's. The faint tension in the air made Odette pause. She reached up, slipping her headphones off and letting them settle around her neck, the music fading as reality came sharply into focus.
"Evenin', Momma," she greeted, feigning nonchalance as she moved to set her bag down, but her mother's gaze pinned her in place.
"Evenin' doesn't excuse where you've been, Dot," Lorraine replied, voice soft yet firm, a tone that held more weight than any shout. "Hours after school, and I don't see any textbooks, don't see any homework gettin' done."
Odette felt the urge to look away, to let her gaze drift anywhere but the fire in her mother's eyes, yet she held her ground. She knew better than to talk back—she'd been raised with a healthy respect for her mother, for the quiet authority Lorraine wielded like a blade in silk.
But tonight, something churned within her, a need to stand her ground, to make herself heard.
"I... I just needed some time with my friends, Momma," Odette started, her voice measured, carefully restrained. "I'm not always runnin' wild, you know that."
Lorraine's gaze softened, but only a fraction. She let a breath pass before responding, folding her hands in front of her as though bracing for what was to come. "It's not about what you need, Odette. You're young, and you're talented—far more than you even realize. But there's a weight that comes with that, a responsibility. And you can't keep acting like you're just any other kid."
The words struck, and Odette's chest tightened. She knew what was coming. She'd caught whispers of it, bits of her mother's conversations that hinted at plans, decisions that had been made without her input.
She clenched her hands at her sides, feeling the cool press of the star cutouts on her sandals against her feet.
"So... what does that mean?" she asked, unable to keep the edge from her tone. "What, you're sending me off somewhere?"
Lorraine's lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes gentle but unwavering. "Yes. You're going to Japan, Odette. You're going to live with your grandmother."
The words hung heavy in the air, an immovable weight that seemed to press down on her chest. Japan. Her grandmother. The very notion felt foreign, as if it were a concept dreamed up in another life.
"But... Momma, why?" Her voice was softer now, almost pleading. "Why send me away like that? I know I mess up sometimes, but I'm not... I'm not some lost cause."
"It's not about punishment, Odette," Lorraine replied, her voice softening as she stepped closer, resting a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "This isn't about right or wrong. It's about growth. You have a gift, and it needs honing, discipline, more than I can give you here. Your grandmother is the best person to teach you."
Odette searched her mother's eyes, looking for some sign of hesitation, something that would tell her she could sway the decision.
But Lorraine's resolve was clear, written in the lines of her face, the firmness of her grip on Odette's shoulder. She wanted to argue, to fight against the decision with everything she had, but the words felt futile, like trying to hold back a wave with bare hands.
"I don't want to go," she murmured, feeling her voice waver. "I don't want to leave everything here."
Lorraine's gaze softened further, a flicker of sympathy breaking through her firm expression. "I know, honey. I know this isn't easy. But sometimes... the hardest choices are the ones that help us become who we're meant to be."
Odette felt the sting of tears pricking at the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them away, straightening her posture. "So, that's it? I just pack up and go?"
Lorraine's hand moved from her shoulder to cup her face, thumb brushing gently along her cheek. "This isn't goodbye. It's just... a new chapter. You'll come back, stronger than ever. You have my word on that."
"I'll go," she whispered, her voice steady but laced with defiance. "But I won't let her change me. I'm still me."
Lorraine smiled softly, a glimmer of pride in her eyes. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Odette."
And with those words, Odette felt the gravity of her journey settling within her, a quiet storm gathering as she prepared to face the unknown, her resolve unbroken, her spirit unyielding.
