ON SIGHT

snippet

Courtney

"You've got one free day here, Coco, and then it's studio lockdown to finish the album."

Jasmyne's voice was crisp, her signature stare sharp as she applied pressure. She wasn't playing with me this weekend—and I knew better than to try her.

"I got you, Jaz. It's a low-key weekend. Only Simone is here... and you know she's basically a recluse."

My makeup artist added the last bit of highlight while I glanced around the small Detroit dressing room. Black families smiled back at me from portraits on every wall—warm, joyful, celebratory. But one photo pulled me to my feet.

It was a wedding. A beautiful one. Lights strung high like floating stars, white chairs arranged like poetry. But what hit me wasn't the setup—it was the way the couple looked at each other.

Even in stillness, you could feel it: they were obsessed. In love. Seen.

And for a second, I wanted that. Whatever that was.

But just as quickly, I shook it off.

Love? Not right now. I was focused. Debut album. No distractions. Nothing standing in my way.

I grabbed my phone to check the time—regret hit fast.

His name lit up the screen.

Nope. Not today.

I hit ignore, my stomach tight. Every time he called, it pulled something I'd fought to bury. Control? Slipping.

I took one last look in the mirror, smiled at my reflection, and whispered:

"I'm the one. Not the two."

Then I walked out the room like nothing could touch me.

The minute his name hit my screen, I knew I was about to forget everything I promised myself.
Again.

💬 Have you ever had to ignore a message just to protect your peace? Would you have picked up that call?