Silent Tears: Book I

Growing up in the heart of Chicago's South Side, Keyla Tolbert learned early that survival was more than just making it through the day-it was an art. Life teaches her early to trust no one too much, love nothing too hard, and always be ready for whatever. But when a violent, life-altering attack shatters her world, Keyla is left reeling, trapped between who she was and who she has to become to keep moving forward. The only thing that makes sense is her music-her lyrics, her flow, the power of her voice. It's the one thing that belongs to her, the one way out that doesn't come with a price.

But escape was never easy for the women in her family. Keyla's mother, Wanda, knows that better than anyone. Once a bright-eyed girl with dreams bigger than the projects, Wanda fell into the same cycle she swore she'd never repeat-young motherhood, dead-end love, and the kind of sacrifices that steal pieces of your soul. When her past mistakes catch up to her, Wanda does what she's always done-run. Leaving Keyla behind to navigate the harsh realities of life on her own.

As the weight of her world shifts, Keyla is forced to navigate a fractured home, a mother who disappears when things get too hard, and a dream that suddenly feels out of reach. Music was supposed to be her way out, the one thing she could control-but now, even that feels uncertain. A trip to Mississippi offers a brief escape, but when she returns, nothing is the same. The streets whisper, the past lingers, and the people she thought she could trust have started making moves without her.

In a raw and unflinching coming-of-age journey, Keyla navigates the complexities of family, betrayal, ambition, and self-discovery. Can she turn her pain into power, or will the streets claim her before she gets the chance?