Plot

In the blistering heat of a Los Angeles summer, Ray Jones, a vibrant yet struggling black woman in her mid-twenties, finds herself living out of her old SUV, parked in the desolate lot of a nondescript strip mall. Consumed by a life-altering adversity, her world is reduced to the confines of her vehicle, which serves as her sanctuary, her fortress, and her cage.

Struggling with her predicament, Ray finds solace in her poetry, pouring out her pain, her hopes, and her resilience in verses filled with raw emotion. As the days turn into weeks, each passing day paints a vivid portrait of her journey, from despair to hope, from vulnerability to strength.

Her mother's cryptic text, "you'll be alright when the swelling goes down," becomes her mantra, a beacon guiding her through the tumultuous sea of her emotions. Ray's journey of self-discovery unfolds within the walls of her SUV, as she battles loneliness, heartbreak, and the stifling heat.

Yet amid the struggles, Ray cultivates self-love, self-growth, and ultimately, self-reliance. Her transformation is captured not only in her appearance but in the spark in her eyes - a testament to her resilience and determination to overcome.

The final act sees Ray, changed and renewed, starting her car and pulling out of the parking lot, leaving behind the shell of the woman she once was. The swelling has finally gone down, and Ray's story serves as a poignant reminder of the human spirit's resilience, the power of self-love, and the transformative power of time.