In 1963, eleven-year-old Arlinda leaves Alabama's Jim Crow racism to reunite with her mother. Convinced she must earn her love through achievement, she becomes a national TV dancer, Miss Black Cleveland model, and San Francisco legal secretary. But each fleeting accomplishment only deepens her belief that love must be earned.

Unemployed and enduring a medical system that devalues Black women's pain, a cancer diagnosis strips away her independence and her carefully constructed image of strength. Left with nothing, she must finally prove she is lovable without the performance.

Rob Cole began writing in 1993, with his short story, “Brenin”, first published in The Anthologist, Rutgers University’s literary magazine. After earning his degree in English with specializations in Creative Writing and Comparative Literature, he crafted stories for non-profits, such as International Fund for Africa and Steriliseren Nederlands. His fundraiser photo book, HOPE, showcased the impact of pioneering Spayathons on Romania. In 1997, he built an immersive virtual reality world to present his short stories. As social media grew, so did his writing, expanding into multimedia storytelling.