The Hard to Heal Playlist 🎶

Music from Black Artists That Inspired Brielle, Micah, and Ayana’s Journey

Music has always been a soundtrack to healing for me, and it became the heartbeat of Hard to Heal. Every song on this playlist reflects the themes at the center of the story: trust, heartbreak, betrayal, resilience, forgiveness, and the kind of love that refuses to let go.

This is more than a playlist—it’s a map of Brielle, Micah, and Ayana’s emotional journeys.

🥀 Ayana’s Layer (Jealousy, Betrayal, Regret)

Ayana’s presence is complicated—part jealousy, part longing, part regret. These tracks carry her duality: bitterness and vulnerability.

• “Pick Up Your Feelings” – Jazmine Sullivan | Her pride and detachment.

• “Supermodel” – SZA | Her insecurities hidden behind attitude.

• “I Hate U” – SZA | Her raw bitterness.

• “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” – Rose Royce | Facing the emptiness left behind.

• “Say Yes” – Floetry | Her deep desire for intimacy, even when it’s messy.

🌅 Resolution & Healing (Forgiveness, Growth, Letting Love Win)

At the heart of the series is healing—finding hope, forgiving, and choosing love anyway. These songs close the playlist with light and resilience.

• “Optimistic” – Sounds of Blackness | Finding strength and hope again.

• “Love’s In Need of Love Today” – Stevie Wonder | A reminder of the world’s need for healing love.

• “Ex-Factor” – Lauryn Hill | The painful cycles that teach growth.

• “Brown Skin Girl” – Beyoncé, Wizkid, SAINt JHN ft. Blue Ivy | Self-worth and beauty rediscovered.

• “As” – Stevie Wonder | A love that endures through everything.

🌑 Brielle’s Journey (Trust Issues, Healing, Opening Up)

Brielle has carried so much pain, and trusting again doesn’t come easy. These songs capture her guarded heart and her fight to believe in love after betrayal.

• “Broken Clocks” – SZA | Time lost, moving forward anyway.

• “Bag Lady” – Erykah Badu | Carrying the weight of old wounds.

• “Needed Me” – Rihanna | Her protective walls, keeping people at a distance.

• “Free Mind” – Tems | The battle for inner peace.

• “Resentment” – Beyoncé | The sting of betrayal that lingers.

• “Lost One” – Jazmine Sullivan | The ache of what’s gone but not forgotten.

💔 Micah’s Journey (Heartbreak, Regret, Learning to Love Again)

Micah’s story is one of loss, regret, and the courage to open his heart again. These tracks echo his struggles with closure and his slow return to love.

• “Love” – Musiq Soulchild | His longing for something real and lasting.

• “I’ll Never Love Again” – Tank | His heartbreak and regret.

• “Still Your Best” – Giveon | The voice of unresolved feelings.

• “Can’t Let Go” – Anthony Hamilton | His inability to release the past.

• “When We” – Tank | His pull toward intimacy and connection.

• “Adorn” – Miguel | The tenderness of fully giving love again.

🔥 Brielle & Micah Together (Healing Love, Choosing Each Other)

When Brielle and Micah finally collide, their love is messy but transformative. These songs capture the beauty of healing love.

• “All I Need” – Method Man ft. Mary J. Blige | Ride-or-die devotion.

• “Golden” – Jill Scott | Living free, joyful, and whole.

• “If This World Were Mine” – Luther Vandross & Cheryl Lynn | A timeless duet of commitment.

• “Die With You” – Beyoncé | The intimacy of forever love.

• “Before I Let Go” – Maze ft. Frankie Beverly | The joy in celebrating love after pain.