It was a Sunday I would put on repeat. The kind that makes self-care feel less like a luxury and more like a requirement. This Year, I promised myself I'd get serious about my financial goals. Which looks like home- cooked meals, at home mani and pedis and most importantly... at-home lattes and capuchino's. Because how did a cup of coffee go from $4.50 to $6.75? Like be serious. Speaking of coffee, I was excited to finally try Noir Lux Coffee's Desire blend. Lace and Pearls had been sold out all week. After a productive Friday of working from home and deep- cleaning every corner of my apartment, my personal space reflected my mind space. Clear. To set the tone, I lit every candle on every counter and table and made my way to the kitchen to butter my bagel. Maple bacon, egg and cheese. Simple. Quick. Satisfying. As I sat at the counter eating, a thought crossed my mind. What if men didn't exist? Would women be lonely? Would we still soften our voices? Would we still lean into our femineity? I smiled at the thought. I enjoy the company of a man. I do. But the company of myself has always felt... better. As warm water filled my foot spa, I chose a pretty blue gel polish. The name was even sweeter than the color-Powder Puff. I slipped into a baby pink lingerie slip, because why not? I layered my face with an avocado mask and shouted, "Hey Siri, play Beyonce- Me, Myself and I." Before dipping my feet into the bubbles, I needed something warm. Something indulgent. Something that matched the mood. A classic salted caramel latte. Extra caramel, with steamed milk to add the perfect texture to a cup. Myt latte art heart came out almost symmetrical this time. Progress. I carried my cup and saucer to the living room, lifted the blinds to let the beautiful sunlight flood my space. I sank into the couch, feeling completely unbothered. No stress. No social obligations. No FOMO. Just me and my coffee. That peace lasted until my phone buzzed. Russel. It sat on the kitchen counter, lighting up, waiting. And for once, I didn't feel the need to rush and answer. I wanted to protect this moment. I wanted to finish choosing myself. So, I did. I moisturized. I polished. And before I could even allow my hands and toes to completely dry, there was a knock at the door. I couldn't pretend I wasn't home with Cater to You by Destiny's Child playing loud enough to give me up. So, I tipped toed to the door carefully fanning my hands. Russel stood there, amused and fine as ever. He leaned in, kissed me softly, and stepped inside like he belonged. Out of the blue, he asked a question I wasn't ready for. "Why don't we have a key to each other's place? The air shifted. Because a key isn't about convenience. It's about full access. It's about permanence. It's about trust. And suddenly, my perfectly peaceful Sunday felt like it was requesting something from me.

                                                                 To be continued...