the last song

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The final take had just wrapped.

Korina stood barefoot in the sand, her gold dress fluttering in the desert breeze, her curls catching the sun like a halo.

The set for her music video "Blind" was dreamy - soft, golden hues and vintage sunset parked crooked in the background.

The team cheered, someone popped a bottle of champagne, and one of the backup dancers spun around singing, "This was a viiiibe!"

Laughter echoed through the open space. Korina grinned, leaning into the moment. She high-fived a lighting tech, took a goofy selfie with the choreographer, and even sat cross-legged on the dusty floor, sharing gummy bears with the sound crew.

"It's like... peaceful here," she said aloud, almost to herself.

"You earned this," said her stylist, smoothing out the hem of her dress. "This whole shoot was magic."

Korina tilted her head up to the fading sky. "I could live in a moment like this forever."

But time didn't wait.

"Ay guys I'ma cathuo with y'all I'ma just go and change real quick"she said walking back to her trailer

Back at the trailers, she peeled off her dress and changed into a comfortable pair of pants. Her pager rang - a familiar name flashed.

"Yo," she answered, voice still soft from singing all day.

"Korina, you need to start heading to the airstrip," said the voice on the line, fast and clipped. "Jet's almost at capacity. If y'all don't leave now, it's gonna be too late."

"I thought we weren't leaving till morning," she said, rubbing her temples.

"They switched it last minute. Weather's acting up, and the pilot wants to beat the storm."

She hesitated. "But if it's already full-"

"It'll be fine," he cut in. "They're making space."

Another voice in the background shouted, "We can't load all this!"Then another: "Somebody better take some of this equipment out."

Korina frowned. "It doesn't sound fine."

"It's just bags and camera gear. Trust me, you're good."

"I don't know, something don't feel right." She stood up, slowly. "Can't I wait and catch a flight in the morning? Or a separate plane?"

A pause. Then:

"You know we already paid for the jet. You not getting on makes everything complicated. You tryna start problems?"

Korina sighed. "I'm not trying to start anything. I just-"

"Look," he snapped. "You're tired. I get it. But this ain't the time for one of your moods. Just get on the damn plane, alright?"

by the tike I opened my mouth the pager was already dropped leaving me in my thoughts,alone in that trailer.

By the time they arrived at the small private airstrip, it was dark. The jet loomed ahead, sleek and humming with energy. But people were arguing near the stairs. A crewmember shouted, "We're overweight! We can't take all this!"

Another voice chimed in, "Take the damn boxes off, not the talent!"

Korina stood at the edge of the tarmac, hoodie pulled tight, arms folded. She didn't move.

Her assistant nudged her. "Come on, Kori."

She shook her head. "I don't wanna go."

"You have to," said a voice behind her. The same one from the phone earlier - her label rep, walking up with a stiff grin. "We already took your bags up. No turning back now."

"I said I don't wanna go," she repeated, voice firm now.

But before she could blink, her arm was gently tugged, someone grabbed her purse, and just like that, she was being ushered toward the steps.

Korina paused at the foot of the jet. Her heart beat louder than the engine.

"Something's not right," she murmured.

"You're just tired," the rep said again. "Take a nap. You'll be in L.A. in a couple hours."

And against her instincts-against the voice in her gut screaming "wait"-Korina climbed the steps.

The door shut behind her.Preparing to leave the area

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Korina sat back in her seat, eyes half-closed, the hum of the jet's engines vibrating softly beneath her. The turbulence had settled, for now, but there was a strange, uneasy calm that settled over her.

It was quiet - too quiet. The lights were dimmed, and most of the crew had fallen asleep or were quietly chatting amongst themselves. She adjusted her hoodie, the soft fabric of it brushing against her skin as she stared out the window.

The night sky was a deep, vast ocean of stars, and Korina's thoughts drifted. She found herself lost in memories - memories that felt distant but warm, as if she was seeing them from a place of comfort.

Flashback: "When It All Started"

Idk if this was necessary

She was back in the N.W.A. studio, the scent of ink and vinyl filling the air, surrounded by the electric buzz of creativity. It was chaotic, the studio always humming with life. But in the midst of it all, she felt at home.

She was just a girl with a dream, a girl who stumbled upon a microphone in a dusty corner of the room and had no idea how much it would change her life.

The first time she held that mic, something clicked. She could barely hold it properly, but the sound that came from her - raw, pure - it felt like the universe had whispered into her soul.

The crew had laughed at her, teasing her for how small and fragile she looked, but they were all smiles when she dropped her first verse. That's when the first spark was lit, and she had never looked back.

Then there was Navira, the strong-willed woman who showed her what it meant to fight for your place.

Their bond was instant, as if they had known each other for lifetimes.

Korina remembered the late-night talks, how they'd both dream about making it big, how Navira would always tell her, "You're gonna blow up. Just keep that fire burning, Korina."

Then she remembered Eric,the man she had once loved,the man she still does love,how he was the first to ever tell her all that has ever said,the first to ever buy her something extremely valuable,the first to degrade and hurt her the way that he did.

"If I could take it all back I would"she thought to herself thinking if the moment when she walked in on him saying those nasty comments he had made that day.

How hurt she felt after but as if you could rewind the last.

In that moment, as the jet swayed ever so slightly, Korina felt peace.

Present Day:

But peace was fleeting. Korina snapped back to the present, blinking a few times, when she felt a soft tap on her shoulder.

She turned her head to see one of the backup dancers, Tara, standing next to her. Tara was a sweet girl - always upbeat, never too loud, but in the best way. She had a way of putting people at ease.

"Yo, you good?" Tara asked with a smile, her voice soft so as not to disturb the quiet.

Korina offered a small smile, the corners of her mouth turning up just enough. "Yeah, just lost in thought."

Tara tilted her head, studying Korina's expression. "You sure? You look like you're somewhere else, like...in another world."

Korina chuckled lightly, leaning back into her seat. "Just remembering when I first found the mic. It's funny how it feels like it was a lifetime ago."

Tara nodded, her eyes bright with curiosity. "Damn, I bet that was some moment. You were always meant for this, though."

Korina couldn't help but feel a warmth at her words. "I don't know. Sometimes, I think I was just lucky. I don't know how any of it happened. Just...a moment in time."

Tara laughed softly, glancing over her shoulder at the other dancers who were scattered around the plane. "Lucky or not, you've made it, Korina. And that's all that matters."

For a second, everything felt light again. The world outside the plane seemed so distant, so unimportant. It was just them - two women sharing a moment, knowing their dreams had led them to this very spot.

Turbulence: "Shifting Winds"But then, it all shifted.

A faint tremor ran through the plane. The lights flickered for a second, and the low hum of the engine changed pitch. Korina's heart jumped. She glanced at Tara, who seemed slightly unsettled but tried to mask it with a nonchalant smile.

The pilot's voice crackled through the speakers. "Folks, we're hitting a little turbulence. Nothing to worry about. Just some weather in the area."

Korina tightened her grip on the armrests, but her body remained still. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Tara leaned in, speaking quietly, but there was a nervousness in her voice.

"Korina, did you hear? There are rumors going around... some of the crew are saying the plane's overloaded. The weight's too much, with all the equipment and stuff."

Korina's stomach twisted. "What do you mean? The plane's supposed to be fine."

"I don't know, but..." Tara hesitated, her eyes darting toward the back of the plane, where some of the crew were talking in hushed tones. "People are worried. You know how the rumors get. Some people are freaking out about it."

Korina tried to shake off the rising anxiety. "It's fine. The pilot said it's just turbulence. We're gonna be okay."

But the words felt hollow. She couldn't deny the unease that was creeping up her spine. The air felt thick, heavy, like it was pressing down on her chest.

Then came another shake. Harder. The entire plane dipped suddenly, and there was a collective gasp from the passengers. Some people grabbed for the armrests, others clutched at the backs of the seats in front of them.

A woman in the back screamed, her voice cracking with panic. "We're gonna crash! We're gonna crash!"

Korina's heart raced. She tried to stay calm, looking around. Her eyes met Tara's, who now looked pale. The plane shook again, more violently this time.

The pilot's voice came over the intercom once more, trying to soothe the chaos. "Everyone, please remain calm. There's a storm up ahead, but we'll navigate through it. We're perfectly fine. We've done this route before."

But the calm didn't last. Whispers of "it's overloaded" and "we're too heavy" spread through the cabin like wildfire. People were panicking now - some crying, others clutching their belongings. The flight attendants moved down the aisle, trying to reassure passengers, but their own anxiety was palpable.

Korina's hands trembled, but she kept her cool. She glanced back out the window, watching the dark clouds grow thicker, swirling ominously around them. She could almost feel the weight of the plane sinking, fighting against the air.

"As the storm continued to rage around them, Korina took a deep breath, her mind racing. She held onto the seat, whispering to herself, "We're going to make it. We're going to make it."

But deep down, something in her gut told her that this wouldn't be a simple ride. The truth of it was in the air, palpable like the storm outside - like it was circling, waiting.

The turbulence had reached a new level of chaos.

Korina's heart raced, every bump and shake reverberating in her chest. She couldn't shake the growing unease, the feeling that something was terribly wrong. She glanced around the cabin, her eyes wide with shock.

People were no longer calmly sitting or pretending to be okay. Panic was tangible, thick in the air. The flight attendants tried to keep the mood light, but their forced smiles couldn't mask the fear in their eyes.

Korina swallowed hard. This wasn't just turbulence anymore. She could feel it deep in her bones.

This was real. Something was happening, something beyond their control. Her stomach tightened, her thoughts spiraling as her eyes darted around the cabin.

She heard a voice behind her, one of the backup dancers, asking the pilot urgently, "Are we going to make it? Are we going to be okay?"

Korina froze, her body stiffening as the words hit her like a cold slap. She tried to look nonchalant, but her hands were shaking in her lap.

The pilot's voice came back over the intercom, this time devoid of the reassurance he'd tried to offer before.

"It's too late," the pilot said, his voice flat. "The plane is going to crash. There's no way around it."

Korina's breath caught in her throat. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. The pilot's calmness, the casual way he said it - it felt like a punch to the gut.

The words hung in the air, heavy with finality. The noise around her grew muffled as the reality sank in.

Korina's eyes scanned the cabin, landing on Tara. Tara was sitting beside her, her face pale, her lips trembling slightly.

Her hands were clasped tightly in her lap, her eyes wide with terror. Korina watched her, stunned at how her usual calm demeanor had cracked.

"Tara?" Korina's voice was soft but firm, cutting through the chaos of the cabin. Tara didn't respond immediately. She seemed lost in thought, her gaze distant, as if trying to will herself into denial.

Korina leaned in closer, her voice almost a whisper. "Tara... What's going on? Talk to me."

Tara's eyes flickered toward Korina, her expression breaking into a fragile, uncertain smile. But it didn't reach her eyes. "I... I don't know. I didn't think it would end like this. I thought... I thought maybe we'd make it through, you know? I thought I had more time."

Korina's heart sank as Tara's voice cracked, the mask she'd been wearing crumbling away. Tara's lips trembled as she spoke, her words laced with vulnerability.

"I just wanted to take this opportunity, Korina. I wanted to make something of myself. To prove I could do it. But now... now it's all slipping away. Just like that."

Korina reached out, her hand resting gently on Tara's. She could feel the warmth of her skin, the way her fingers gripped Korina's for support. "You have done something. You made it this far, Tara. You've shown up for this. That's more than a lot of people can say. Don't forget that."

Tara looked at her, tears welling in her eyes, but she forced a soft, shaky smile. "Thank you, Korina. You've always been there. You've always been... my inspiration."

The weight of the words hit Korina harder than she expected. She pulled Tara into a tight embrace, feeling the raw emotion pouring from her, a mix of fear and regret.

"Everything's going to be okay," Korina said softly, though she wasn't sure who she was trying to convince - Tara, or herself.

Tara pulled away slowly, her eyes already brimming with unshed tears. She stood up, her legs shaky as she forced a breath. "I'm... I'm going to go talk to the others."

Korina nodded, watching as Tara walked away, her figure slowly swallowed up by the chaos of the cabin. And then, all at once, it was just Korina.

Alone.

She sat back, staring straight ahead, but her mind was miles away. She didn't want to accept it - didn't want to believe that this was how her story would end. But in her heart, she knew. The weight of fate hung over her like a dark cloud, suffocating in its inevitability.

She thought about Navira,about the person who had been with her since the very beginning,even if they had their ups and their downs,it seemed as if nothing could ever destroy their bond,she thought about her career and what this could mean for her future and her record label then she thought about Eric..

About all the times she had ever kissed him,hugged him,made love to her,been with her,half her life spent with him and in that moment she didn't even care about all that they've ever fought about,argued about,cheated on eachother she just wanted to see him,just one more time before she could say her final goodbye.

Then..

She thought about Kory. Her son. The boy who she had given up everything for, but had never gotten the chance to truly know.

The one person who she had always hoped would find a way to see her as something more than just a star.

She thought about the moment when she would finally meet her real parents, the ones who had always felt so far away, like a distant dream she could never reach. Maybe she would see them now, in some other life, in some other place.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she held them back. She couldn't cry. Not now. She couldn't show weakness when everything was slipping away.

She looked out the window one last time, the clouds swirling outside, dark and ominous. It was almost as if they were closing in, trapping her inside the metal body of the plane.

She could feel the plane shudder once more, the engines groaning with the strain of the extra weight, and it felt like the end was near.

Korina closed her eyes, taking a deep, shaky breath. She allowed herself one last moment of peace, even though the sadness gnawed at her insides.

It was the end of the road. There was no escaping it.

And then, as if on cue, the plane dipped violently, sending her body forward, her seatbelt pulling tight against her chest. Everything seemed to spin, the lights flickering wildly above her.

The scream of the wind filled her ears, louder and louder, drowning out everything else.

The plane groaned once more, as if it, too, had finally reached its limit. Korina's heart hammered in her chest as she squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for impact.

Her final thoughts were of Kory. Of the life she never got to give him.

Of the family she never truly knew. And of the strange, unspoken peace that settled within her as the plane descended into the unknown.

The moment the plane went into freefall, Korina accepted her fate. There was no escape now. Only the memory of a life that had been full of hope, love, promises,and a burning desire to make it - even if she couldn't make it out alive.