Bird Songs Series: A Moment of Clarity (Episode 1)
The Bird Songs Series — A Symphony of Love’s Fleeting Melodies
We yearn to hear life’s melodies, fragments of stories taking flight each day, mirroring our shared desire for love. Some melodies settle gently upon our souls, while others merely graze our ears before fluttering away. Within this short-form romantic novel-style series is a collection of those fleeting songs that unveil the complexities of the human heart.
Invite these birds to perch upon your heart, listen intently to their joyful and sorrowful notes, and discover solace in the shared experience of love’s triumphs and tribulations. Uncover the melodies that resonate with your truth, stirring your soul and reminding you that you are not alone in your joys and sorrows.
Onya hauled her overstuffed backpack across the sprawling campus of Tillman State University, heading to her first class of sophomore year. She felt a swell of pride thinking back over the incredible journey that had brought her here. Onya had grown up in Northside, one of the roughest neighborhoods in the city. She’d lived in a cramped, dilapidated apartment with her single mom and three younger siblings. Onya’s mom worked long hours at a manufacturing plant just to support her family. From a young age, Onya had vowed to create a better future for herself and for her family. She immersed herself in her studies, often learning by candlelight when their electricity got shut off. Teachers noticed Onya’s natural intelligence and drive. She secured a partial academic scholarship to TSU, joining the first generation of her family to attend college.
Onya had felt totally overwhelmed transitioning to university life. All her classmates seemed to come from lavish backgrounds, dressing in designer brands and joining sororities and fraternities. Onya focused on her classes and commuted from home to avoid expensive dorm costs. During freshman orientation she’d met Rodd who was instantly captivated by Onya’s beauty, humor and compassion.
Rodd came from a similarly low-socioeconomic background, i.e. from the hood. However, instead of a single parent home, he was raised by two functional, God-fearing and loving grandparents who were well-respected in their community. While Onya’s mother constantly battled with alcoholism, depression and eviction, Rodd’s caregivers were stable, fully present, home-owning, and exceptionally nurturing of their grandson. Neither of Rodd’s grandparents earned more than an associates degree. However, they leaned on the experience, influence and mentorship of relatives and close church friends to help prepare Rodd for his path of excellence. Many within their circles earned advanced degrees, were scholars as well as leaders in their fields. Rodd’s parents were long deceased before he reached pre-school, casualties of the 1980s era epidemic of drug use resulting from the introduction and facilitation of drug distribution by the CIA into their community.
Rodd seemed like someone Onya could perfectly relate to. Unlike Onya, however, Rodd fit seamlessly into the Greek life party scene on campus and within affluent social circles. Despite their different upbringings, Onya grew to feel close to Rodd, and they soon started hooking up casually. Though she’d never admit it, Onya grew deeply attached to, and slightly co-depended of, Rodd. She hoped their relationship could become something real.
But after freshman year ended, Onya faced a crisis. Her partial scholarship didn’t cover the full tuition, and her mom was laid off from her job at the plant. Onya needed to pay the next semester’s tuition balance of $2,000 in just two months, or on-time matriculation through TSU would be disrupted. In a desperate move, Onya took a summer job dancing at an upscale strip club out of state. She felt uncomfortable at first, but soon realized she had a natural talent that could rake in serious cash. Onya ended up earning over $6,000 a week in tips alone, shattering the other girls’ records. For the first time, she had financial security and a taste of the lifestyle her classmates had grown up in.
Onya decided to put her earnings to good use. She invested $12,000 into a laundry business situated right off TSU’s campus where she employed her mother full-time, and provided work opportunities for her relatives. For $5,000, whe became a 25% owner of a popular student restaurant downtown and helped her three siblings secure part-time jobs. Onya even had enough left over to purchase a well-built, but neglected, foreclosed home near campus for just $30,000. She moved into the home and began renovating it, herself, when she had the time to spare. In one transformative summer, Onya earned enough to pay her tuition for the remainder of her degree program, had built up an entire enterprise through her own grit and determination and established employment for her entire family.
Sophomore year soon arrived, and Onya felt on top of the world. She sauntered onto campus with her new laptop and her new meal plan card, grabbing a bite to eat from the campus dining hall without flinching at prices. Onya had even purchased a new suv, no longer needing to commute by bus. She walked with confident swagger, feeling empowered by all her accomplishments. Onya hoped Rodd would finally find more value in her, and see her less as an object.
To her disappointment though, Rodd seemed oblivious to her success. He still hit her up late at night for hookups whenever it suited him. Rodd kept treating Onya more like a friends-with-benefits than a girlfriend. He only wanted to meet up privately in her house, never taking her out to restaurants or anywhere public. However, he’d invite her to his fraternity parties to which she always declined. Onya tried to start conversations about her business ventures and real estate investments. But Rodd seemed bored, always finding something to derail the conversation.
It was painfully apparent they operated in totally different social circles at TSU. Rodd was focused on Greek life popularity, his pre-med classes, and keeping up his image. He didn’t show any real interest in Onya’s life outside of the bedroom. Onya realized she deserved better than someone who only valued her looks and never asked about her dreams or passions; she began to wonder if he even valued her looks. This year, she vowed to only surround herself with people who appreciated every facet of who she was.
Onya entered her Strategic Management class with confidence and purpose. She made small talk with a few classmates about the promising internship opportunities at this prestigious program. Out of the corner of her eye, Onya noticed Rodd walk past her class room window. He shot her a sly grin. Onya smiled back politely before turning her attention to the professor. She felt empowered knowing her worth and her path forward. This was her time to thrive on her own terms.
