He stared at her, "Wow." "Yeah." She lifted her chin in the air. "Wow. Because every time you talk about marriage and kids, it feels like the end of me. Of my freedom. My career. My identity." "And every time you avoid it? It feels like the end of us." He fired back. Silence slammed between them. "Well." She broke it first, her voice quieter but crueler. "Maybe you just picked the wrong woman." He rubbed his jaw in thought, "Shit, maybe I did." • • • • • • 𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚊 𝚋𝚊𝚍 𝚖𝚒𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚕𝚎? 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚊 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝? 🥀👻 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝟺 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚅𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 (𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚗-𝚘𝚏𝚏)

"She not like the others, Ma. She real." Phoenyx spoke with conviction. "She makes me feel-" "Like a bitch." Persephone cut in, raising off of the couch. "You lettin' her soften you up. I ain't raise you to be no simp." "Forreal, Ma?" Phoenyx felt the heat rising to his face, a mixture of embarrassment and anger. "Why can't you just let me have this?" "Have what?" Persephone scoffed. "This shit ain't you. You gon' start actin' like somebody's fuckin' husband now? You think love gon' save you in these streets?" • • • • • • 𝙰 𝚗𝚎𝚐𝚕𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚊 𝚛𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚎. ❤️‍🔥👻 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝟹 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚅𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 (𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚗-𝚘𝚏𝚏)

Tahje Love Walker is a 24-year-old cardiothoracic surgeon from the small community of Vanity Fair, Linstead. She grew up living a normal life with her parents and a sister close to her age. For most of her life, Tahje dreamed of becoming a lawyer, but everything changed when her mother was diagnosed with a serious heart condition. Determined to save people like her mother, Tahje shifted her focus and worked tirelessly, with the unwavering support of her parents, to achieve her new goal. Years passed, and now she is one of the top cardiothoracic surgeons at Kingston Public Hospital. Ashtrey Ja'ior Kestrel, a notorious 20-year-old contract killer, also grew up with a normal life. However, as the saying goes, friends can lead you astray, and that's exactly what happened to him. Known for his ruthless precision and multiple run-ins with the police, Ashtrey has somehow managed to avoid punishment time and time again. Whispers of corruption, police ties, and bloody payoffs follow him everywhere he goes. He is not someone who takes losing lightly, especially when it comes to what or who captures his attention. When Tahje and Ashtrey's worlds collide, secrets will unravel, loyalties will be tested, and their lives will change forever. Will they find a way to trust each other despite their differences, or will their collision lead to destruction for them both?

𝐆𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐍 ( 𝐄-𝐃𝐄𝐍) ; 𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍: 𝐀 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐇 𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐅𝐑𝐔𝐈𝐓. 𝐈𝐓 𝐒𝐘𝐌𝐁𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐙𝐄𝐒 𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐘, 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐃𝐀𝐌 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐄𝐕𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐄. Growing up in a challenging environment in New Orleans, Eden found herself trapped in a world of young teen prostitution, forced to confront adult situations far too early. Despite the darkness surrounding her, she possesses an undeniable spirit and resilience that shines through her struggles. As she embarks on her journey into adulthood, Eden experiences the thrill and pain of first love with a fellow teenager who understands her struggles. Their connection offers a glimpse of hope and healing amidst the chaos, but it also brings its own set of challenges. The story explores the impact of abuse and the fight for self-identity as Eden learns to reclaim her life and redefine what love truly means- all while simultaneously juggling motherhood. "Garden of Eden" is a raw and poignant story of motherhood, survival, love, and the quest for redemption, capturing the essence of black teen love while addressing the harsh realities of growing up a "fast little black girl." Started: March 2025 Ended: TBD

"So when you gon' stop playing and let me hit that shit, Zuria?" Mitch asked while he smoked a blunt in my mother's living room and we both sat on the floor. "Let you hit this?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I watched him blow smoke into the air. "Yeah." He smirked, cockily. "How about when you learn how to talk to your girlfriend?" I took the blunt out of this hands and smashed it on the ashtray that was on the coffee table. "Whatchu do that for?" He bit his bottom lip, leaning into me. "Hm?" He went on, softly biting my neck. "I've told you, you can't smoke in here, Mitchell." "You're really not even supposed to be here." I said to him, considering my mother did not condone boys in her house but here he was. He'd completely ignored me though as he mushed his head into my neck, leaving small kisses. "Stop." I whined playfully as he pushed himself up onto me and kissed my lips, pushing me backwards with our lips still attached. "Mitch." I spoke nervously as he climbed on top of me while I now laid my back onto the carpet. "Let me hit that shit, ma." He spoke softly into my ear as he continued leaving kisses on my neck. "Mitch, we cant. My mom will be home from work soon." I expressed to him but he ran his hands up my school skirt anyway. "Stop bitchin'." "Let me finally pop that cherry, Z." He spoke, putting his lips on mine as he slowly moved my underwear aside and rubbed his fingers against my Girl. "Mm." I moaned, unfamiliar with this feeling but it felt great. And though I knew my mother would be here soon, I no longer wanted to stop. He continued rubbing it as I laid there, looking up into his eyes. As I did, he smirked down at me and I smiled small, rubbing a hand down his cheek. I was so in love with this boy.

"𝘛𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮."

/ˈemˌpī(ə)r/ noun noun: empire; plural noun: empires Building a foundation, a team, a generational wealth, a legacy. An Empire.

𝙏𝙞𝙡 3005, 𝙄 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠, 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨, 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙪𝙥.....

"I made the decision to cheat on my wife because I liked the way you made me feel vulnerable and comfortable enough to open up to you the night before it happened. I ain't never did shit like that before and that's what made it easy for me to choose to risk everything I got for you." "That shit probably not a big deal to you but a nigga like me ain't never opened up to nobody but my best friend-and still..that's rare. I hate even talking about her with you but I don't even feel comfortable talking to Ariana about my feelings 'cause I know she gon' judge me. You don't make me feel like that."

Detroit has always been the type of city that carries its own unique name with pride. Full of nonstop hustlers who move with dignity, each chasing their own dream. Trevon Gardner is one of them: a rapper finally gaining real attention, trying to turn his talent into the life he's been chasing forever. Xamira Evans is a gifted cosmetologist with her own blueprint, living life to the fullest. Their worlds don't usually collide...until one unexpected moment changes everything. Now they have to face the consequences. Will it bring them together, or tear them apart?