It was that time of year again—and the Girls were ready for it. They each felt the weight of this year's highs and lows, cries and laughs, love and loss.
To this day, there's a long-standing argument on who came up with the idea. A'ja thinks she was the one who mentioned it in passing. Michelle was convinced that since she was the one who found the place, she must've been the one to come up with the idea. K.C was just grateful to be invited and looked forward to this moment every year.
Of the three, A'ja was the first to arrive with her black duffel bag and a Vera Bradley backpack she's owned since college. Claiming the master bedroom as the oldest, she gently tossed her stuff in the corner. Flopping down on the king-size bed and relishing the feel of the oversized duvet covers on her skin, a fleeting thought promised that she'd only close her eyes for a minute or two.
By the time K.C unlocked the door, the sunset was in motion, creating an amber glow that warmed her chestnut skin and made her smile. Grandma Cecile was obsessed with the beauty of a sunset, claiming no two sunsets were ever alike, and in the same way, no two people were alike. She was one of a kind, and her grandma made sure she knew it, felt it, and believed it.
When Michelle sashayed in the living room with her matching baby blue bags — four of them, to be specific, because she had to have one for her makeup and her clothes and her purse and her shoes — the lights outside were turned on, and the alarm was activated. She was the only one who didn't fully understand what it meant to be on a weekend getaway with the Girls.
The cottage was a hidden gem tucked along the coast, overlooking the crystal clear waters of the ocean. The home was stunning, with the airy, coastal decor and the natural light creating endless spotlights that illuminated every step taken on the wooden floor.
At some point, they'd meditate in the backyard and practice breathing techniques— something K.C had recently gotten into and strongly encouraged that they tried. They hadn't, but she'd make it happen now that they were together. One way or another, they'd always find themselves in the private heated pool, swimming laps until their skins looked like aged raisins.
And as the hair and makeup guru of the group, Michelle would give them unsolicited advice on how they could take their styles to the next level — A'ja could use more color, K.C some flair, and even she could admit she had room for improvement. She needed to learn to tone it down sometimes. A little could go a long way.
The lush landscaping, the breathtaking view, and the luxurious bedrooms made this the perfect spot for the Girls to get away to every year to escape the hustle and bustle of their everyday lives. Only Michelle could have made this happen — she knew everyone, even the whales in the ocean.
After everyone had bathed and the aches and tension of the day were relieved thanks to the power of Epsom salt — and the makeup was removed, the lashes ripped off, and the makeup wiped off— they congregated around A'ja who was busy making some concoction that was going to blow their minds. She never needed to follow a recipe. She was always able to feel these things. Maybe it was her natural artistic abilities seeping into her culinary creations.
In between bits and pieces of cheese, meat, and crackers from the charcuterie board, they talked about everything and anything and whatever remained in between.
Next year, K.C would be graduating from college — the first of the Turners to achieve such a feat. It wasn't without sacrifices, but she hoped it would all be worth it once she walked down the stage with a diploma. A'ja was pushing thirty but welcomed the change of seasons. However, there was more story to tell before that chapter closed. The only time the conversation lulled was when Michelle accidentally mentioned Leo's name. Anyone who didn't know her would think she was never fazed or that she never floundered. She was just that good, but not too good for them.
Everyone stopped for a moment, thinking back to where they were and what they were doing when they got the news that seemed to have made time stand still for hours. A’ja could still hear the buzzing and beeping and bellowing, coupled with the chaos of people shoving her family out of the way until all that was left was the sound of flatlining followed by an eerie silence.
Knowing how to pull everyone out of the darkest depths of their minds, K.C began singing a song that had become their anthem for the year. She couldn't sing to save her life, but each time she tried, it would send all three of them into a fit of giggles as if they were children again.
To no one's surprise, the Korean fried chicken paired with a bowl of sticky rice and savory grilled broccoli was delicious. Since A'ja was a seasoned traveler in the group, she did most of the cooking, treating them to international cuisine every night. Like her art, cooking was a therapeutic activity for her, and watching her friends savor each bit healed parts of her soul,
In between bites, Michelle was wiping her forehead and huffing and puffing as she tried to cool her burning tongue from the dried red chili. The water wasn't helping, and neither was the milk. K.C was doing everything she could not to laugh, but couldn't help it. To see her poised and proper friend succumb to the heat was hilarious.
And it was for moments like this that they escaped from their day-to-day lives to retreat to a place of serenity and tranquility.
When the time came, they didn't need a clock, a watch, or a sundial to let them know. They knew it and felt it in their bones. Like synchronized swimmers, they leaned back with their glasses of wine and put on their Black Bonnets — they were done for the night and away for the weekend.
And they were going to enjoy every second of it.
Question: Who do you think is A'ja, Michelle, K.C? What's their story?