Page 74 of Free to Fall

“It’s been almost a decade,” Sandra said softly, looking at each of us in turn. “We watched you grow up on this set. We watched your lives shift, your art sharpen. Egypt, your vocals? I still remember the first time you sang on set, and we all looked at each other like,Oh, she’s different.Serenity, you choreographed that entire coven ritual scene in season two—on a twenty-minute break. Averi, your monologue in season five had crew members crying behind the cameras.”

“Don’t make me cry,” Averi muttered, wiping under her eyes.

“I just…” Sandra shook her head and looked down at her notes. “We love y’all. And while this is the end ofThe Coven, it’snot the end of your stories. This press run is going to be huge. And emotional. And beautiful.”

There was a second of silence again, but this time none of us fought it. We let it settle.

I finally spoke. “We appreciate everything, really. This show changed my life.”

Serenity nodded. “Mine too.”

Averi sniffled. “It gave us a sisterhood off-screen that’s gonna last forever.” Everyone in the room seemed to exhale at once.

“Alright,” said Greg, standing and clapping his hands once. “Let’s get to work. We’ll send you detailed itineraries, wardrobe schedules, and social strategy by the end of day. But block out three and a half weeks starting next Monday.”

“I gotta call Royal,” Averi muttered.

“I gotta tell Nasseem,” I added quietly.

“Y’all gonna be okay being away from your men that long?” Serenity smirked. “I’m a little used to it by now.”

“I am. Royal has been on tour for weeks I’m a little used to it.” Averi replied.

“No,” I said honestly. The room erupted in laughter, but for me, it was a nervous laugh. Because I wasn’t sure how okay I’d be. Not just from being away from Nas—but from being away from the quiet I’d been clinging to. The healing I hadn’t yet finished. Still, I nodded. “It’s go time.” And just like that, we began the farewell.

That night, we were on the couch after dinner. Nas had one arm around me, the other hand absently rubbing his healing side. He didn’t talk about the pain much, but I could tell it lingered. Sometimes I caught him wincing or zoning out mid-sentence.

“I got something to tell you,” I said, twisting a little so I could face him better.

He looked at me immediately, eyebrows raised. “What’s up?”

I took a breath. “The Coven’swrapping promo for the final season. Serenity, Ave, and I just had a meeting about it earlier today. They want us in New York next week. It’ll be a few weeks of press—talk shows, interviews, and get this…we’re co-hostingSNL.”

He smiled at that, proud, but it faded when he caught the look on my face. “Uh oh, what’s that look for?”

“I don’t wanna leave you,” I said. “You just started walking around more, you’re still healing. I just—I don’t feel right being gone for that long.”

He turned to face me fully, pressing his palm gently to the side of my face. “E,” he said quietly. “Stop worryin’ about me, baby.”

“But I?—”

“You need this. You need something that ain’t about pain. Ain’t about me gettin’ shot or us losin’ our baby,” he said, voice thick. “You need to go out there and be Egypt. Let ‘em know who the fuck you are again.” His words made my chest tighten, but not in the painful way. Still, I didn’t say anything right away. “I been thinkin’,” he added. “When you get back…we should both try therapy. For real.”

I looked at him in surprise. “You’d do therapy?”

“For you? Hell yeah. For me too, if I’m bein’ honest.” He shrugged. “I ain’t really been okay since everything went down. But I’m tryna be.”

I leaned forward and kissed him softly. “Okay,” I whispered. “When I get back, we’ll set something up.”

A few days later,the smell of roasted garlic and thyme hit my nose the second we walked through the front door of our friend’shome. Creed and Serenity’s home always felt warm. Not just because of the candles she had burning in every damn room, but because of what it represented—stability, family, peace. I hadn’t realized how much I needed this space until I stepped into it again. I glanced at Nasseem, who gave me a small smile as we kicked off our shoes at the entry.

Giovanni’s voice rang out from the kitchen, followed by Cree’s laughter. It made me smile for the first time today without it feeling forced. “Uncle Nas!” Giovanni came flying out the kitchen like a little rocket. “You better be ready to play 2K tonight cause I been practicing!”

Nas chuckled, as he dabbed Gio up. “You still trash, little man. Practicing don’t change that.”

Cree followed behind her big brother; eyes wide as she caught sight of me. “Auntie Egypt! I like your hair.”

I bent down and gave her a tight hug. “Thank you, baby. You get taller every time I see you.” Next, I gave hugs to Bryce, Braden, and Alani. All three of them looking equal parts of their mama and daddy.

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