Let Her Flo EP. 3 Sister Circle

*"Some truths need witness,

Need sisters to hold space

While you remember how to be brave,

How to trust love's timing,

How to believe in your own blooming.

They been rocking with me since before

I knew my own worth,

Watching me hide behind comfort,

'Til comfort became a cage.

Now here they are,

Holding light while I transform,

Speaking life while I learn to flow,

Praying strength while I learn to trust

This new season's rhythm."*

—SoulSpeak_Flora (Posted at 1:17 AM)

Part I: Sister Circle

"Y'all, I got tea," Lisa's voice filled the group FaceTime, "but first - Flora, why you been ghost in the group chat?"

Flora adjusted her phone, seeing her three friends' faces fill the screen. Jasmine in her scrubs, obviously on break at the hospital. Lisa looking flawless as usual. Cassie with her production notes visible in the background.

"She trying to hide her glow," Jasmine smirked. "But the poetry group done exposed you, sis. We saw them comments from BrooklynSage."

"Hold up," Lisa leaned closer to her camera. "The fine artist with the locs? The one everybody talking about?"

"Can we not—" Flora started.

"Nope," Cassie cut in gently. "Time to share. First the separation announcement, now this connection? We need details."

"For prayer purposes," Lisa added with a wink.

"Y'all too much." But Flora felt comfort in their familiar energy. "Things are... shifting. James and I decided—"

"We know about James," Jasmine's voice softened. "What we don't know is how you really doing with all this change."

"Child, start from the beginning," Jasmine pressed. "When you decided to be honest about your marriage ending."

Flora touched one of her twists nervously. "James and I... we grew apart so quiet we almost didn't notice. Until I started creating again. Until I started remembering my voice."

"And this Joseph situation?" Lisa raised a perfectly arched eyebrow.

"It's... complicated." Flora felt her cheeks warm. "He's brilliant, understands art and culture deeply, but..."

"But?" Cassie leaned forward.

"He's guarded. Wounded from past disappointments. One minute we're connecting so deep about art and purpose, next minute he pulls back like he remembers not to trust."

"Sounds familiar," Jasmine said pointedly. "Like somebody else I know who keeps her heart behind art."

"The way y'all dancing around each other in them comments though," Lisa scrolled through her phone. "That's that grown folk connection."

"Lisa!" But Flora couldn't help smiling.

"She ain't wrong," Cassie added. "But Flora, you sure you ready? With everything else shifting?"

"Look," Cassie spoke first, "as someone who's watched you dim your light before - what's different this time?"

"Everything," Flora admitted. "I'm not that young woman anymore, trying to fit into someone else's space. But Joseph..."

"He triggering something in you," Jasmine observed. "The way you light up when y'all talking art."

"Meanwhile," Lisa cut in, "your latest pieces getting all this attention. The museum feature coming up. Separation papers getting filed. That's a lot, sis."

"And Joseph's got his own walls," Flora said softly. "You can feel it in how he engages. One moment so deep in conversation about art and purpose, next moment..."

"Next moment remembering not to feel too much?" Jasmine finished. "Baby girl, that's that wounded recognizing wounded."

"The question is," Cassie leaned closer, "are y'all ready to heal together or you just gonna admire each other's scars?"

Flora felt that truth land. "He's supposed to be in town next week. For the museum feature."

"Chile!" Lisa's eyes widened. "So all this connection about to be in person?"

"Y'all need to help me process this," Flora admitted. "Meeting in person after all these deep conversations..."

"First," Cassie switched to mentor mode, "how's your spirit? You been praying about this?"

"Every day. That's what scares me - I feel peace about it. Despite everything shifting."

Jasmine adjusted her scrub cap. "Listen, I've known you since high school. You different now. Stronger. But I still see you holding back sometimes."

"And Joseph?" Lisa pressed. "What's his story? Why he so guarded?"

"Past relationships left him cynical. Plus his work keeps him... careful. Private." Flora paused. "But when we talk art, purpose, culture - it's like walls come down."

"Until they don't," Cassie observed. "Sound like y'all both doing that dance - one step close, two steps back."

"Speaking of steps," Lisa grinned, "what you wearing when y'all meet?"

"Girl!" But Flora laughed, grateful for the lightness.

"Nah, she got a point," Jasmine said. "You better not try to hide in them oversized clothes. Show up as yourself."

"Both of y'all need Jesus and therapy before anything else," Jasmine said firmly. "No offense."

"Already got both," Flora smiled. "Dr. Rivers been helping me navigate all this."

"Good," Cassie nodded. "Because this connection... it's different. I see it in your art, in your words."

Lisa scrolled through her phone. "Speaking of words - the way he comments on your work? That man studying you, sis. Every detail."

"But pulling back when it gets too real," Flora sighed. "Last night we were talking music, art, really connecting. Then suddenly..."

"He remembered to protect himself," Cassie finished. "Meanwhile, you doing the same dance."

"Look," Jasmine's voice got serious. "Y'all both artists. Both carrying old wounds. Both trying to trust God's timing. But at some point, somebody got to be brave first."

"The question is," Lisa smirked, "which one of y'all gonna take that step?"

Flora opened her latest piece - a digital painting about trust and transformation. "The museum feature opens next week. We'll be in the same space for the first time."

"Then show up as yourself," Cassie said softly. "Full light. No dimming."

"Let me tell you something," Cassie's voice turned gentle. "When me and Marcus first connected, we were both scared. Both had past hurts. Sometimes God puts two healing people in each other's path."

"Or two stubborn artists who need to learn trust," Jasmine added.

Flora touched her screen, Joseph's last message still waiting for response:

Art's easier than authenticity sometimes.

But your work... it makes me want to be real.

Even when real feels dangerous.

"You see what I see in that message?" Lisa asked. "Man's trying to meet you halfway."

"While you sitting there trying to protect both of y'all," Jasmine observed. "That ain't your job, sis."

"Can we pray about this?" Cassie asked softly. "About stepping into vulnerability?"

"Yes please," Flora whispered, feeling tears threaten. "Because next week..."

"Next week you show up as yourself," Lisa finished. "Full beauty, full power."

"And if he ain't ready?" Jasmine raised an eyebrow. "Then that's his loss, not your failure."

Cassie began praying softly, "Father, we lift up Flora in this season of transition..."

"And transformation," Jasmine added.

"Cover her steps," Cassie continued. "Give her wisdom about this connection. Help her trust Your timing."

Flora felt her friends' love wrap around her through the screen. But before the prayer could finish, her phone lit up with another message from Joseph:

Been thinking about vulnerability.

About art reflecting truth.

About how some connections

Make you want to risk being seen.

"Amen," Jasmine said firmly. "Now that's a word right there."

"Chile," Lisa leaned forward. "He sending poetry now?"

"That's not poetry," Cassie observed quietly. "That's confession."

Flora stared at his message, feeling the weight of next week's meeting. "What if we both too broken to—"

"Stop right there," Jasmine cut in. "You ain't broken. Neither is he. Y'all just learning to trust again."

"Listen," Cassie's voice carried wisdom, "some connections come straight from God. They challenge you to grow."

"While terrifying you in the process," Flora admitted.

"Look at this message again," Lisa insisted. "'Connections that make you want to risk being seen.' That's a man fighting his own walls."

"Text him back," Jasmine urged. "Right now. While we're all here praying strength into you."

Flora's fingers hovered over her phone:

Being seen is scary.

But maybe that's why art exists -

To help us be brave enough for truth.

"There she is," Cassie smiled. "That's the Flora I know."

His response came quickly:

Next week at the museum.

No more hiding behind screens.

No more art as armor.

You ready for that?

"Lord," Lisa breathed. "He challenging you to step out."

"And you ready," Jasmine added firmly. "We all see it, even if you don't yet."

"Before you answer him," Cassie spoke softly, "remember what Dr. Rivers said about divine timing."

Lisa was already typing on her phone. "Looking up that Proverbs scripture about a woman's worth..."

"No scriptures needed right now," Jasmine cut in. "Just truth. Flora, what you really scared of?"

Flora touched her screen, considering. "That once he sees all of me - not just the art, not just the online presence..."

"Stop." Jasmine's voice turned stern. "That's that old voice talking. The one that kept you small before."

Flora typed her response:

Ready for truth.

For being seen.

Even the parts that scare me.

You?

The friends held their breath. His reply came:

Terrified.

But something about your light

Makes me want to be brave.

Museum. Next week.

No more screens between truth.

"Did he just..." Lisa gasped.

"Confess he's scared too?" Cassie smiled. "That's growth right there."

"Both of y'all scared to death but still choosing courage," Jasmine said. "That's real."

Flora felt her heart beating faster as she read his message again. Her fingers moved to her art program, starting a new piece.

"She creating," Lisa announced. "Y'all know what that means."

"Processing through art," Cassie nodded. "Like always."

The piece took shape - a woman stepping into light, fear and courage dancing in her wake.

"Before next week though," Jasmine's nurse instincts kicked in, "we need a plan. Flora, you can't just walk in there with all these feelings and no boundaries."

"Boundaries?" Lisa scoffed. "The way they connect? Those walls coming down regardless."

"Let her finish," Cassie cut in. Turning to Flora, "What's your spirit saying?"

Flora looked at her art, at his message, at her friends' concerned faces:

To Joseph:

Truth deserves its own time.

Its own space.

See you at the museum.

No more hiding.

"There's our girl," Cassie nodded with approval. "Clear. Strong."

"And he responding," Lisa pointed out as Flora's phone lit up:

You asking me to be real too.

That's... new.

Most people just want the artist,

not the man still learning to trust.

"Vulnerability breeds vulnerability," Jasmine observed. "But Flora, you need to protect your peace too. This ain't just about y'all's connection - you got Selah to think about, a career growing, a marriage ending."

"That's why next week matters," Flora said softly. "Meeting in person will show us both what's real and what's just... artistic chemistry."

"Speaking of chemistry," Lisa grinned, "we need to talk about what you wearing."

"Focus," Cassie laughed. "But she ain't wrong. Show up as yourself - the mother, the artist, the woman coming into her power."

Flora's phone buzzed one final time:

Joseph: One more thing.

If we doing this - being real -

You should know something about my past.

Something that might change everything.

"Hold up," Lisa sat up straighter. "What past?"

Flora stared at Joseph's message, her heart racing. As she typed a response, another message appeared:

Joseph: Been carrying this weight too long.

Before we meet, before anything else happens,

you deserve to know why I guard my heart so hard.

Why trust doesn't come easy.

"Don't answer yet," Cassie cautioned. "Pray first."

"Girl, pray later," Lisa countered. "This man about to open up!"

"Both of y'all hush," Jasmine's voice cut through. "Flora, what's your spirit telling you?"

Before Flora could answer, Joseph sent one final message that made everyone on the group call go silent:

Some scars tell stories we ain't ready to hear.

But if we doing this - really doing this -

you need to know about the night that changed everything.

About why I stopped believing in love.

About the woman who taught me that trust kills...

The message stopped there, three dots blinking like a warning.

"Flora..." Cassie started.

But Flora was already typing, her heart pounding:

Some stories need witness.

Some truths need time.

Tell me...

Part II: Truth After Hours

After the group call ended, Jasmine's name lit up Flora's phone again.

"I knew you'd call back," Flora answered softly, mindful of Selah sleeping.

"Because I see you, girl. Really see you." Jasmine's voice carried weight. "And I need to tell you something. About choices. About marriage. About what 'letting go' really means."

"Jazz..."

"Let me finish. You know Marcus and I almost didn't make it. That summer... when I met Kevin at work..."

Flora remembered. Remembered holding Jasmine through tears, through guilt, through choices.

"I thought I was done," Jasmine continued. "Thought new love was better than fighting for old love. But Flora... sometimes what looks like an exit sign is really God's detour back to purpose."

"This is different," Flora started.

"Is it? Or are you and James just tired? Just forgot how to fight for each other?"

Before Flora could answer, her social media notifications exploded:

@TheOriginalAva: Some men change your whole life. @BrooklynSage knows what I mean 😘

Twenty years later and still thinking about that summer...

The post already had thousands of likes, shares, comments:

@ArtWorld: Wait... THE Ava Richards? The singer?

@CultureVulture: Didn't she and Joseph date before she blew up?

@BrooklynScene: The plot thickens...

"Flora?" Jasmine's voice pulled her back. "You still there?"

"Yeah, just..." Flora stared at her phone. "Things just got complicated."

"Life usually does," Jasmine said softly, "right before it gets clear."

Next Episode: "The Weight of Truth" - In which past loves cast long shadows, present choices demand courage, and Flora learns that sometimes letting go requires making sure you're releasing the right things. Meanwhile, a pop star's casual post threatens to complicate an already delicate connection.