Crossing Paths

Introductions

Kylie Cantrall stood in front of her bathroom mirror, staring at her reflection as she smoothed down the fabric of her favorite denim jacket. She had just finished getting her daughter Chloe ready—dressed in a tiny pink hoodie, sparkly sneakers, and her signature bow—and now the house was quiet. The rush of getting everything done before the day started had settled, and for a moment, Kylie allowed herself a brief pause to take in the woman she had become.

At 23, she felt like she had finally made it. But the truth was, she didn't get here alone. Chloe's laughter, the way her small hands grabbed onto Kylie's fingers like she was holding onto the whole world, had been her motivation since the moment she found out she was pregnant.

Her thoughts drifted back to when everything changed. The day she found out she was pregnant during her senior year of high school—the same year she'd been determined to finish with honors, get into UCLA, and finally get a shot at her dream of making music. She remembered telling her boyfriend, the boy she thought was her everything, about the pregnancy. His face had gone pale, his eyes wide with disbelief. His voice had been cold when he said, "It was only meant to be a bit of fun. I didn't want to be a dad."

Kylie hadn't expected it. He had been the first boy she ever truly loved, or at least, she thought she had. But love or not, when he walked out, Kylie didn't waver. She was keeping the baby. She would raise this child on her own if she had to.

And though she had her doubts at times—her heart heavy with fear and the weight of the unknown—she never once considered walking away. The day she found out she was having a girl, a flood of determination rose within her. She would give Chloe a life filled with everything she deserved—love, support, security, and more opportunities than she'd ever had.

Now, as Kylie adjusted the strap of her bag and glanced back at Chloe—who was busy giving her dolls an impromptu tea party on the living room floor—she couldn't help but feel proud. The little girl sitting there, with her dark curly hair and beautiful brown eyes, was the reason Kylie worked so hard every single day. The reason she'd pushed herself to get into UCLA and then graduate with honors. The reason she'd signed her first record deal only six months ago, when it seemed like the world had no room for a single mother to chase her dreams.

Kylie had never let having Chloe stop her from achieving anything. It was never going to be easy—she'd known that from the start—but it was always going to be worth it. She didn't just want a job, a paycheck, or a career. She wanted to build a life that her daughter could be proud of, one where her mother's dreams were something to aspire to, not a distant hope that never came true.

Her phone buzzed from the counter, interrupting her thoughts.

Dad: Studio at 10. You ready?

Kylie smiled. Her dad had always been there for her. Her mom had left when she was little and it had always been her and her dad ever since. He was more than a father and a manager—he was a friend, a mentor, someone who believed in Kylie when she had nothing to show for it but a notebook full of lyrics and a few late-night demos.

Kylie quickly typed a response.

Kylie: Always ready. Got this. And I'll be there in 20.

She glanced at the clock and then her daughter. Chloe had become such a little person lately, full of personality and curiosity, and Kylie loved watching her learn and grow. But her favorite part was when Chloe would sing along with her mom's songs—words or not, Chloe always found a way to make her own melody, adding her own twist to whatever track Kylie was working on.

Just as Kylie was grabbing her keys from the table, Chloe's tiny voice floated across the room.

"Mommy?"