Luna sat at her desk in her studio waiting for the views on her live stream to increase before speaking. It was around 3am when she woke up and everyone was asleep, but she had thousands of notifications on her phone about the video her soulmates had posted while she was asleep. She did her morning routine to the best of her abilities and made herself presentable before going up to her studio to watch it before the live stream she planned to do.
She'd woken up just as upset as she was when she'd gone to sleep, especially when she saw how late it was. Her new pain medicine was less strong than the last and had still knocked her out for a little over 11 hours—something she absolutely despised. After watching the video, she was even more proud to call the seven men downstairs her soulmates. They'd just double downed on everything she already knew, and she was glad to see them stepping outside the company and speaking with their hearts when it came to something they felt needed to be addressed urgently and passionately.
"Alright, first of all, I want to say that I wasn't present for the video my soulmates posted yesterday simply because I was asleep, not upset with them. I've been seeing that narrative so let's dead it now. Yesterday, I heard about everything right after a very difficult physical therapy appointment and my pain meds were kicking in, so despite how upset I was; I figured it would be best to wait and address things while I'm more level headed. Secondly, these bloggers and podcasters, the media—none of them are telling me anything I didn't already know about. I'm not excusing any of my soulmates' past actions, but they've educated themselves and have redeemed themselves in so many ways since then. Naming it would be pointless considering they did a whole video on it yesterday. Go watch that if you haven't. I'm not going back and forth about it. What's said is said and what's done is done. However, I am still upset and disgusted with the way people like Joe Budden are taking advantage of a time where we're seeking to heal and using it for clout. That's what's pissing me off," Luna says, stopping to take a deep breath that did nothing for the void of anger brewing in the pit of her stomach.
"Ima take this time to get some shit off my chest—starting with Joseph since he lit this fire."
She sits up, her arms resting on the armrests of her chair as she moves closer to the camera, making sure her face was in focus. She wanted him to see the look in her eyes as she read him for filth. She clears her throat before starting.
"Joe, you're a bitter ass washed up wanna be with a chip on your shoulder because your wack ass career didn't go anywhere. That's why you resorted to running your mouth about everyone else's careers for a living. It's funny how you mentioned in yesterday's passionate rant that mine is taking a hit. You're not slick sir. You've been subbing me since I turned down an interview with you 2 years ago. You're not concerned about me, not in the slightest. Don't piss on me and call it rainwater. You saw that everyone was talking about the live stream we did and decided to take some of that buzz for yourself you geriatric, clout chasing has been. You heard us all say that we weren't in a good mental state and yet you deliberately decided to tear us down by bringing up something that happened years ago. You know what though Joe? I've got time today. Since we're bringing up old shit, do you remember when you "allegedly" got kicked off that show for putting your hands on your girlfriend? Or when your ex came out and said you abused her too—oh? And your most recent ex too? Apparently, you love to tussle with women. Hm, and let's not forget about those sexual harassment claims that you publicly apologized about. You're a terrible person who obviously hasn't learned from his mistakes. That's one of the biggest things that sets you apart from my soulmates. They acknowledged that they did wrong and never did it again. They held—and as you've probably seen by now—are still holding themselves accountable for their mistakes and putting the actions behind those words. So you see, they learned their lessons and proved themselves worthy. Can't say the same for you Joe. Not to point fingers when I say this, but Eminem admittedly said the N word, but that didn't stop you from signing with Shady Records when you thought ya lil career was gon' pop. All facts, no cap. Now I want you to go and think about what I just told you and think again before you ever decide to come for me and mine again.
That's all I have to say to and about Joe Budden. Some of you will say I'm too harsh, I'm a bitch, a mean person—but at this point, I don't have one fuck left to give. I. Am. Tired. Like, attack after attack after attack. When will it stop?" she sits back in her chair to gather herself, closing her eyes and counting backwards from ten before continuing.
"I used to sit and ponder when my breaking point would come and my grandma used to tell me, "Trust me, you'll know." I get it now. To everyone saying "stay strong," I really appreciate that, but even the strongest of fortresses can be worn down if you keep bombing it and bombing it and bombing it. The world will beat you down, watch you get dragged by the masses, and then ask why you're so angry. That's where I am now—worn the fuck down, drained. All I want to do is be happy, mind my business, and make music. That's it. I don't want to deal with ridiculous fan wars and clout chasers and these delusional ass individuals who think they have a chance with me or any of my soulmates. I literally cannot stand it anymore," she confesses, feeling like she was approaching her wits' end.
"Do you ever think about quitting or leaving the music industry overall?" she reads one of the fan's questions aloud.
"Over the course of my career, I've only contemplated it twice—once when I left K3 and around the time Mr. Hampton's son took over HHG. I don't feel that way very often as I'm so grateful for all that I have, but today is one of those days. I wish I could just buy some uncharted island in the middle of the fucking ocean and just drop off the grid until I feel like re-joining civilization. Whereas I can't do that, I do think that I'm gonna take a hiatus from social media too. It's not good for my mental state at all right now and I can't cuss everybody that says something out. Not only is it too many people, but I don't want to keep living in that energy. It's turning me into someone I don't want to be, so I'm gonna take a step back.
From now on, if you want to speak on me, just be ready to back it up with ya pockets because I'm handing control of all this over to my team and you will be sued. All I do is make money and mind my business and people stay on my shit. And for what if not clout? I'm not going back and forth anymore from this point on. It's literally a losing game. Joe will know how I feel about him now, but what purpose does that serve in my life? Absolutely none, because I gave not one fuck about him in the first place. See? I wasted energy and I'm still mad. He's not gonna stop being scum just because I called him out on it. The blogs aren't gonna stop posting bullshit, because that's what they're paid to do. This industry is a never ending cycle of fake ass negative ass energy.
So, to all the people that love me genuinely and wholeheartedly, I love you right back. My true Galaxy babies, I love you to the moon and back and even past that. I hope that you'll wait for me like you've always done and hopefully, I'll see you again someday soon—in a better headspace. This isn't a goodbye, just a see you later. Take this time to work on yourselves or help someone else. I know that's what I'll be doing. Let's all make an effort to spread some kindness because the world could sure as hell use more of it."
With that, she waves to the camera and throws up a peace sign before ending the live stream. She sits there in silence for a moment, staring up at the ceiling. Even though she'd gotten things off her chest, it still felt as heavy as ever—the crushing weight of all the proverbial stones thrown finally threatening to crush her completely.
"Noona?" JK asks, slipping into the room and shutting the door behind him.
"Yeah?" she asks softly, not even aware that she was crying until he reached out swiped some of her tears away with the backs of his fingers.
"I was about to ask if you were okay, but I already know the answer. It's okay Lu, just let it go," he coaxes, pulling her into his chest and wrapping his arms around her tightly, tears sliding down his face as well as she fell apart in his arms.
He could practically feel the walls she'd built up so high crashing down now, her guard along with it. She no longer had the mental strength to keep them up anymore. Sobs racked her body as she clenched his shirt in her hands. She cried for all the times she couldn't; for all the times she held it in; for all the hurtful comments strewn her way; for the possibility she wouldn't get full range of motion back in her left hand —and then cried some more until she was weak in the knees from the exertion.
JK cried just as hard—her pain mixing with his, but didn't dare let go—not even when the rest of their soulmates filed in, awakened from all the emotional turmoil. There, in the middle of her studio, they allowed themselves to be broken as well, each taking a piece of her pain until it was bearable for her. This is what the bond was made for and no one outside them would be able to even fathom how selfless and full of love they were for each other.
Luna realizes that this was what she needed all along, to break down and be vulnerable—to tear down that one woman fortress and build one seven times stronger with the love and support of her soulmates weaved within.