Smell The Roses

The scent of blooming flowers greets you as you walk down the street, a small red rose tucked into your bag. Ms. Irene, the flower lady, waves from her garden, reminding you of missed talks and bean pies.

Your mind wanders to your father, a forgotten melody in the rhythm of your life. The library, with its familiar smell of books and coffee, awaits, a temporary haven from the pressures at home.

Work is busy, a blur of customers and conversations. Your best friend, Sanaya, offers coffee and commiseration, her own relationship woes echoing the complexities of your own life. Anthony, your persistent work husband, makes his usual attempt to ask you out, a reminder of the friendships you value.

Later, picking up your brother Maliq from baseball practice, you encounter Corden Harris, a link to a past you want to protect Maliq from. The walk home is filled with Maliq's baseball dreams, a stark contrast to the conversation that awaits you.

The air at home is thick with unspoken tension. Your mother, her own dreams sacrificed, delivers an ultimatum that shatters the fragile peace, forcing you to confront the possibility of losing the only home you've known and questioning if your artistic aspirations are nothing more than a foolish dream.