Chapter 27

A YEAR LATER

A s the sun began to set over the Emerald City Stadium, casting an amber light across the field, Qamar felt a rush of adrenaline coursing through him. It was finally here—his first professional game as a central midfielder for the Emerald City Kings. After a grueling season spent on the bench, he was determined to make every moment count. The stands were packed with fans, their cheers echoing like a heartbeat, and Siasia and his daughters waved excitedly from the sidelines.

The call Jay had been desperate to get to him was the invitation from his friend that owned the Emerald City Kings. The owner, Three, didn’t need to see anything. The offer was his if he wanted it. The only thing that stood in his way was the fact that the draft was officially over for the season. To go around that, Three made him a sub that sat on the bench for the past season. Now, he was suited up and ready to show the world how they slept on him. Now he was woke—the beast they all knew he would be on the field. One of the best they’d seen in a long time.

The whistle blew, and the game kicked off. Qamar quickly found his rhythm, moving fluidly across the pitch. He intercepted a pass from the opposing team, highlighting the skills he had honed during countless hours of practice. With a deft touch, he dribbled past an opponent, his confidence soaring as he made his way toward the goal. The crowd erupted as he delivered a perfectly timed pass to his forward, who slotted it into the net.

Qamar's heart raced with joy; he had assisted in his very first professional goal.

As the game progressed, Qamar's presence on the field became more pronounced. He orchestrated plays, communicated with his teammates, and even took a shot that narrowly missed. The final whistle blew, and the Kings emerged victorious with a score of 3-1. The stadium erupted in cheers, and Qamar couldn't help but smile, feeling the weight of the past lift off his shoulders.

After the game, Qamar stood in front of the camera for a post-match interview, still buzzing from the victory. "It feels amazing to finally be out there," he said, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "I’ve worked hard for this moment, and I couldn't have done it without my teammates and the support of my family. This win is for all of us. This for The Jig. This for my kids and it’s for Lunar." His hand went to the sky, blowing a kiss.

As he wrapped up the interview, Qamar spotted Siasia and their daughters making their way toward him. Esmeray, her little face beaming with pride, ran up and threw her arms around his waist. "Daddy, you were awesome!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.

Belinay, still a bit wobbly on her feet, clapped her hands and giggled, while Noodle, with her ever-curious gaze, looked on, her admiration evident. His eyes zeroed in on his three-month-old namesake who was the spitting image of him. A little boy with his daddy’s looks and beautiful spirit. All that Siasia had dreamed of.

Siasia approached, her smile radiant, and he felt his heart swell. They had come so far together by mending past relationships and building a beautiful family. She had come to an understanding with Janay and although they weren’t close like she and Malaysia, they were in a better place than ever before. Siasia still grieved her mother but she had found solace in her work, and Qamar was proud of her resilience.

As they stood together, Qamar wrapped his arms around Siasia and their children, feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude. "This is just the beginning," he whispered to Siasia, his eyes shining with love. "Our forever journey is just starting, and I can’t wait to explore it with you—beyond the stars."

In that moment, surrounded by his family, Qamar knew he had everything he had ever dreamed of, and the future looked brighter than ever, but his performance wasn’t over. The cameras panned to the emerging editorial photographer that was making her mark and showing the world what true Black girl magic was. After the shoot with Candi and Jay, she’d been booked and busy working with brands she’d only dreamed of working with. Life was good.

The lights in the stadium dimmed, confusing Siasia until a voice she’d only heard when she snuck a peek into her room filled the stadium.

“I’ll love you today and hate you tomorrow. You keep me safe and bottle my sorrow.” Noodle’s sweet and soft voice melted her heart. “When there’s nothing to say, just always know,” she belted the note while crooning the word, shocking Siasia into tears. “Beyond the stars, is where you are. Beyond the stars, is where our love lies. When you can’t find the joy of tomorrow. Look for me in the stars where our love is, beyond the stars and further than our eyes go.”

Luna joined in, adlibbing while the lyrics pulled on the heart of everyone in the stadium. There wasn’t a dry in on that day. Siasia was so caught up with the big voice coming from her little sister that she didn’t notice the rest of the family, including Candi and Jay, surrounding her. When French went to remove Qamar Jr from her arms, she broke down after seeing Qamar on his knees.

“Yes!” she screamed, jumping up and down before pinching herself to make sure it was real.

Qamar wiped his face of tears. “Mama, you gotta let me ask you.”

“Why when I know what I’m going to say?”

“Come on, Mama. Let me do this the right way,” he pleaded, his eyes twinkling under the bright lights.

“Then hurry up,” she fussed, making them laugh.

“Siasia, will you do me the honor of allowing me to fulfill the promise of forever? Marry me, Mama.”

“I already said yes,” she reminded while stretching her hand out for him to place the beautiful rock on her hands. “You did good, Daddy.” She laughed, admiring the work of art on her hand. It went beautifully with her latest ink on her hand that read art is life .

Qamar hugged her tight before announcing to the world, “She said, yes.”

“Duh, nigga.” Solar snickered, loving that her baby brother had found his way, in his own way.

Siasia kissed all over him, beaming with pride. Her heart was content. Loving Qamar, in a weird way was Siasia’s way of healing her mama’s unloved heart. Through Siasia, Cynthia felt the love she’d always deserved. Through Siasia, Noodle would know what love was supposed to look like.

Everyone congregated around Qamar and Siasia’s new estate. It wasn’t in the countryside of Emerald City and she didn’t have a horse yet, but it was hers. He’d taken everything into consideration on what she wanted, where she wanted it, and how she wanted it. The home was massive and sat on ten acres, but it was filled with love and family and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Beyond the stars, huh?” French stood beside Qamar. The two of them were lost in love watching the loves of their lives and their family celebrate how amazing the day had been. Qamar playing in his first MLS game and winning. Then, he proposed to Siasia, deciding that forever wasn’t long enough but all he could ask of her at the time.

Qamar smiled; his brown eyes low from the bud they’d smoked on. “Man, I had to find myself, make an identity that was my own. While on that journey, I found her and she planted the seed of taking it beyond the stars. I ain’t never understood what it meant when niggas said shit like find a wife and you’ll find a good thing. Now, I do. Siasia completes me.”

“I can tell.” French beamed with pride. “What you’ve done, I know this Lunar’s greatest accomplishment.”

“I love Lunar, he laid the foundation, but this you. This Luna and it’s for damn sure Solar. The cup gotta be spread around because all y’all poured into me. Javen, put that fire under me. Showed me it could be done. The Jig created me, but y’all raised me. Tiny and Mav, too. Siasia gave me a rebirth.” Even the way he spoke was that of a renewed man. It was the transformation of a boy into a man.

“How you and Solar doing?”

French looked at the only girl he’s ever loved and smiled, placing his hand over his heart. “We gone make it.” He nodded. “Gotta make it,” his tone pleaded.

Clearing his throat, French eased his lanky legs over to Solar. Her jet-black pixie cut popped against her tawny skin and youthful looks. Holding onto her hands and looking into her eyes, he kissed her.

“Loving someone with intention. That’s the real shit no one talks about. Like, love can be a fairytale but what happens when the prince done put the shoe on Cinderella? What happens when it’s just y’all— the quest to find each other has ended? That’s when you love your person with intention. Intentions to love, to cherish, to fight, to stand beside, to stand behind, to stand in front of— love ain’t always as pretty as we want to believe it is. Love ain’t masculine or feminine. Love is nothing but pure intent. Love is God. Love is Solar, Aku, Apollo, and Frenchy. Love got me standing right here in front of you, telling you, if it’s a lifetime of good shit that you want, then I’m your man. If it’s a lifetime of adventure that you want, I’m that nigga, too. You loved me on Venus, now let me show you what it’s like to wake up on Mars.”

Solar with tears in her eyes, nodded, eager to wake up on Mars with French. “I love you so much, French,” she confessed before his lips were on hers.

“Ma!” Frenchy tapped her leg, hating the way his daddy seemed to be sucking the life out of his mama.

Stephanie bent down to pick him up. “Y’all should’ve been some damn astronauts with all this space shit. We done been to the moon and beyond the stars. Now you telling me we going from Venus and waking up on Mars.” She placed her hand on her head. “Lord, I need a damn drink and an oxygen mask.”

The room erupted in laughter at how dramatic Stephanie could be. But who said that The 8 Wonders of The World could only be earth side? When Black children fed their souls, they went beyond the universe. Black children weren’t of this world. They were magical. They owned this shit. The whole fuckin’ Universe!

Woke Up On Mars is a book box exclusive. There is a limited quantity of boxes and quite a few were purchased before Beyond The Stars came out. Go to my website if you would like to grab your exclusive book box. There will be some amazing goodies that makes this box so worth the price.