On "Aaliyah" .... I had this story idea and started it in 2016. I laid out my ideas, wrote up my drafts, and knew which politics to insert and which I would theorize would happen.
I am writing this now in August 2020. The ideas I had, the thrills and drama have come to life and are part of my day to day reality. I am not happy with this reality. It is scary. It is hard. It is not knowing what is going to happen next, when my family could be broken, be insecure.
I want to hold onto this story even more. Because even in the end, even through all that happens, what I have in this story is hope. Hope that even after the smoke clears and fires die down, no matter the damage and hurt and loss, there is hope for better world and better place for those that have passed.
Take this as my encouragement to you all to continue to hold onto that hope. It may not be next week or even in the next year, but whenever it happens, look out for it. Work for it. Be happy in welcoming and waiting for it. Have hope.
