peace of mine

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-☆°☆_-_-_-_--_-_-_-_-_--_-_-_-Korina sat at the kitchen table, barefoot, a cold cup of coffee in front of her and a pen that had stopped working halfway through signing the goddamn divorce papers.

She stared at the papers for a long time - at her signature, at the heavy legal terms that didn't feel real until they were in black ink. She had always imagined the end of her and Eric being something explosive. Loud. Cursed out. Screaming through hallways and slamming doors while someone begged them to calm down.

But this?

This was quiet.Cold.Done.

She hadn't even told Eric yet. She didn't need to. He'd been parading around like they were divorced already, dragging her name through the mud like it meant nothing. Like she meant nothing.

And now?

She was finally gonna give him what he wanted.

But even still - her hand trembled a little when she pressed the pen down again. There was something heartbreaking about letting go of someone who had once held your entire heart, even if that heart had been shattered to pieces by them.

As the sun bled into the late afternoon, a familiar knock echoed through her hallway.

She already knew who it was. She didn't need to check.Ralph.

She hadn't seen him in days - maybe a week - since she pulled away. Not out of hate. Not out of anger.Just... exhaustion.

She opened the door slowly, hair pulled back, no makeup, eyes red but dry.Ralph stood there in a hoodie, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a damn box of takeout.

"You look like you ain't eaten," he said softly, offering her a crooked little smile.

She let him in without a word.

They sat in the living room for a while in silence, the food untouched between them, some old R&B playing low from the radio. Korina finally exhaled - the kind of breath you let out after keeping your shit together too long.

"I'm sorry," she said, voice low and raw. "For how I've been actin'. For pushin' you away. For draggin' my mess into your peace."

Ralph looked at her, his expression unreadable for a second. Then he leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and replied, "Korina... life already dragged you through hell. You didn't drag shit. You survived it."

That made her eyes sting. Damn him.

"I ain't perfect," she murmured. "Sometimes I think I'm broken beyond repair."

Ralph didn't interrupt. He let her talk. Really listen.

"I did some wild shit in my past. I let the wrong people in. I stayed too long. I ignored my gut. I let Eric treat me like shit and then cried when he didn't change." Her voice cracked. "And now I'm just-tired. So fuckin' tired, Ralph. Like... if I disappear tomorrow, I don't even know who would care."

He stood up slowly, walking over to her. He didn't say anything for a beat. Then he dropped to one knee in front of her, grabbing both of her hands.

"I would care. Don't ever say that shit again."

Her throat tightened. Her fingers trembled in his.

"You're not broken," he said firmly. "You're just hurt. And shit - you've got a right to be. But you ain't done. And I'm not goin' anywhere."

She couldn't stop the tear that slipped down her cheek. He wiped it gently with his thumb.

"I forgive you," he added, softer this time. "For whatever you think you've done. I already forgave you."

"Even when I shut you out?" she whispered.

"Even then."

"Even when I went off on you for not understanding what it's like to have a baby daddy dragging you through court?"

He chuckled slightly. "Especially then."

She laughed through her tears, voice shaking. "You stupid."

"You dramatic," he shot back. "But I still got love for you."

Korina let out a breath she hadn't even realized she'd been holding all month. She leaned forward, resting her forehead against his.

"Then I guess I better stop runnin'."

He pulled her into a tight hug, holding her like she mattered. Like she was more than her mistakes, her past, her heartbreak.

And maybe, just maybe... she was.

The air was softer that evening.

Korina had just finished pouring herself some tea, trying to quiet the noise in her chest - the courts, the headlines, Eric's words that still stung like open wounds. But for now, the house was still. Kory was napping, the soft baby monitor resting beside her like a lifeline.

A knock on the door broke the silence. She already knew who it was. She didn't even ask. She just opened it.

Ralph stood there, casual but warm - a subtle smile on his face and his hands in his jacket pockets. "Didn't want to call again in case you were sleepin'," he said. "But I wanted to see you. Just for a little bit."

She stepped aside without a word, and he walked in like he belonged.

They settled in the living room, just the two of them, sitting close but not quite touching. For a moment, neither of them said much. The silence between them wasn't awkward - it felt necessary, like the space before a song begins.

"I've been a mess," Korina finally said, eyes fixed on the floor. "I didn't mean to shut you out. I just... didn't know how to handle anything."

Ralph looked at her, all softness. "I get it. I do. But you don't gotta carry it alone, y'know? You been strong for so long, maybe it's time you let someone be strong for you."

She blinked, already feeling tears try to push their way up again, but she fought them. She was tired of crying. Tired of breaking.

"I've been spiraling. I said some shit I shouldn't have. I pushed everyone away, even you."

"I forgave you before you even said sorry," Ralph said gently. "Korina... you're human. You've been through hell. You don't owe anyone perfection."

She looked at him, eyes wide and glassy. "Why're you still here?"

He reached out and took her hand. "'Cause I care. And I'm not goin' anywhere unless you tell me to."

There was a beat of silence, and then - like something small but precious blooming between them - he smiled and said, "Also... I was thinkin'... what if I was Kory's stepdad, huh?"

Korina laughed through a teary breath. "Ralph."

"I'm just sayin'. I could teach him to throw a football. Change diapers like a pro. He could call me 'cool Ralph' or somethin'."

"You are ridiculous," she smiled, finally letting herself lean into him, her head resting on his shoulder.

"But I'm serious," he whispered into her hair. "That boy's lucky. You're doing everything you can. And you still look fine as hell doin' it."

She blushed, biting back a smile. "You always know what to say."

They sat there, her head on his shoulder, his fingers brushing hers - quiet, close. No drama. No cameras. Just warmth. Just stillness.

Then, softly, almost shyly, she lifted her face.

He looked down, and their eyes met.

And when he kissed her, it wasn't wild or rushed. It was the kind of kiss that said: I see you. I care for you. I'm not running.

It was calm. Safe. Sweet.

But right as their lips parted, a soft coo came through the monitor - Kory had woken up.

Korina groaned with a smile. "That boy has timing."

He nodded. "Yeah. I think I'd like that."

And just like that, something shifted in Korina's heart.

After everything - after heartbreak, betrayal, exhaustion - this moment felt different.

It felt like hope.

It felt like home.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-☆°☆_-_-_-_--_-_-_-_-_--_-_-_-Korina stared at her phone again.

She didn't know how long she'd been sitting there - the daylight fading outside her window, the hum of the house around her going quiet. Her thumb hovered over Navira's name. It felt like there was a rock in her chest, like something had been left unsaid and she didn't want to leave it that way.

She pressed call.

Once. Twice.

Straight to voicemail.

She couldn't tell if Navira was busy, ignoring her, or just... done.

Either way, it stung. Like hell. Navira had been one of the last constants in her life. And now, even she had drifted. Korina had hurt her, yeah. Snapped at her. But didn't Navira know it wasn't personal? Couldn't she see that Korina was breaking too?

But people only have so much patience, even with the people they love.

Still, Korina whispered to herself as the line went dead, "I'm sorry." But she wasn't sure who she was saying it to anymore.

Back at Ren's place, it was quiet. Too quiet.

She walked in, expecting to hear Kory's tiny footsteps, maybe a babble or two, maybe his favorite little truck toy getting flung across the floor. But nothing.

Ren looked up from the counter, her face already tense.

"Don't trip," she said gently. "Eric came to get Kory for a little while."

Korina froze.

"What?"

"He said it was his time. Papers been cleared. Said he'd bring him back before dark."

Korina stood still, hands balled up into fists at her sides. Her stomach dropped.

"And you let him just take him?"

Ren looked torn. "He's still his dad, Kori."

"That don't mean shit to me right now," she snapped, her voice cracking. "Not with the way he's been actin'. The threats. The lawyers. The damn court case."

Ren stepped forward. "I know. But you-you weren't in any shape to fight it today. I was just trying to keep the peace. For Kory."

Korina's shoulders sank. She was exhausted. Emotionally, mentally, physically. The weight of it all sat on her chest like bricks.

And then, as if all of it - the silence, the loneliness, the distance from Navira, the court battles, the pain - reached a boiling point, she whispered something to Ren that made the room feel cold.

"If anything happens to me... tell him I loved him. Tell Kory his mama always loved him."

Ren's eyes went wide. "Girl, what? What are you even saying?"

Korina just shook her head, smiled that small, sad smile again.

"I'm just sayin'. Just in case."

As she walked out, the sun started dipping, casting the streets in soft gold. The wind kissed her face, cool and calming. Maybe this was it. Maybe she'd go somewhere far away, maybe she'd disappear for a bit. Just... breathe.

But then-

"Yo! Kori!"

She turned.

Yella was jogging toward her, slightly out of breath, waving.

"What the hell-?"

"Dre and Cube been asking for you," he said, catching his breath. "They at the studio. Said it's important."

Her brows lifted. "Dre?"

"Yeah. Both of 'em."

She blinked. Cube? Not surprising. That was family. But Dre? After everything?

Still... something about it tugged at her.

She followed.

The studio felt like stepping back into a memory.

It was dim, warm, and buzzing with sound. The walls had history. You could feel the music that had been made in them, the energy of verses once screamed and sung and whispered.

Cube stood by the mixing board, headphones around his neck, looking like he never left.

He turned as soon as he saw her.

"Well damn," he grinned. "Didn't think you'd actually show."

Korina rolled her eyes and smirked. "Didn't think you'd still be ugly, but here we are."

They both laughed.

And for the first time in months, her laughter didn't feel forced. It came from deep in her stomach, surprised her even.

"Look at you," Cube said. "Still fine as hell, even with all that tired pain in your eyes."

She blushed slightly, brushing him off. "Boy, shut the hell up."

"No, for real," he added. "You been through it and still look like you could headline a world tour."

She sat down beside him, letting the warmth of that moment soak in. For a second, she forgot everything. No lawyers. No courtrooms. No bitter voicemails. Just her, her oldest friend, and music.

Cube played a beat.

It was slow, soulful, gritty. It sounded like heartbreak met healing halfway.

"You got one more in you?" he asked.

She stared at the speakers, tears silently building in her eyes.

"I got one more," she whispered.

And so they worked. They wrote. She rapped. He produced. They laughed. They felt. Korina rapped like she had something to prove to herself. Like she was clawing her way back to life.

It wasn't about revenge. Or fame. Or proving Eric wrong.

It was just her, pouring everything out.

And when it was done, when that last verse faded and silence fell again...

She smiled.

A real one.

Maybe the first in two months.

"Damn," Cube muttered, "there she is."

Korina looked at him.

"Where?"

"You," he pointed. "The real you. I missed that girl."

She wiped her eyes and leaned back in the chair, that small, tired smile still holding on.

"Me too."

"So what's up cube?,why you call me in here?"

He looked around for some time.

"I just wanted to ask you for one favour"he said casually