Florence’s Story: Her Words Were Just a Chapter

The fading light of the setting sun bathes the rooftop in hues of orange and pink. A soft breeze rustles through the plants lining the edges of the space. Florance, in her red and black striped pants and white tank top, moves fluidly through a yoga sequence, her dreadlocks swaying with each graceful motion. She’s focused, steady, and strong. Her breath is calm, deep, as though the weight of her past has finally lifted.

Next to her, Ayanna, her long braids tied up, mirrors her movements. The two women glide through their poses, their bodies in perfect sync with the serene rhythm of their breathing.

AYANNA (breathing out as she stretches) “Girl, your energy is so different now. You’re glowing.”

Florance pauses in Warrior Pose, a soft smile spreading across her face. She doesn’t need to rush through her poses anymore. She’s present, grounded.

FLORANCE (calm but full of life) “It feels different. It’s like... for the first time in years, I’m not fighting myself. I let go of the battle with my mom a long time ago. She’s not here, in my head, telling me what I’m not. I’ve finally started to see what I am.”

She shifts smoothly into Triangle Pose, her arms extended as the breeze catches the hem of her shirt. Ayanna watches her with quiet admiration.

AYANNA (playfully, but sincere) “Yesss, look at you! You’re like this whole new woman. It’s inspiring.”

Florance laughs softly, moving through another transition. There’s strength in her every move, but it’s not forced. It’s natural, flowing.

FLORANCE “Honestly, it took me years to figure out that healing wasn’t about changing for her. It was about forgiving myself. I had to stop blaming myself for not being who she wanted me to be. I had to start being who I wanted to be.”

She lowers herself into Child’s Pose, resting her forehead gently against the mat, surrendering to the earth below her. Her voice comes out soft, almost a whisper, but filled with certainty.

FLORANCE “I’ve learned to nurture the parts of me she couldn’t. The softness... that’s where my strength comes from. And that love I wanted from her? I had to give it to myself first.”

Ayanna stretches into Downward Dog, looking at Florance with a knowing smile.

AYANNA “Mhm. You stopped waiting for her to fill you up. That’s what healing looks like. And honestly, Flor, it shows.

You’re not just surviving anymore—you’re thriving.”

Florance pushes herself up from Child’s Pose into Lotus Pose, sitting tall, eyes closed, hands resting gently on her knees. She breathes deeply, her body radiating peace. She no longer carries the weight of expectations, no longer feels the pressure to prove herself. The woman she is now—strong, free, and full of love—was forged from years of inner work.

FLORANCE (smiling with her eyes closed) “I used to think I was broken. That her words would always be my story. But now... now I know they were just a chapter. My story is so much bigger than that.”

She opens her eyes and looks out at the horizon, where the sun is slowly disappearing. The sky is a mix of colors—just like her journey. Complex, beautiful, and still unfolding.

Ayanna joins her in Lotus Pose, the two women sitting side by side, bathed in the soft glow of twilight.

AYANNA (quietly, but with deep meaning) “And this is just the beginning.”

Florance nods, her smile widening, her heart light. She takes one last deep breath, then lets it out slowly, feeling a sense of wholeness she’s never known before.

FLORANCE (with confidence)

“Yeah... it is.”

Bring Florence Home