A Chance At Life
Landing my first client brought the biggest smile to my face.
Everyone knows what that means for a freelancer. One client turned two, the gigs came pouring in, and I was well on my way to being an independent girl. What more could a 25-year-old conservative girl ask for? Except that was not my life and I had so much I was asking for.
Being the first child with three younger siblings put so much responsibility on me. Dad was no more and mom’s eyes had given way to glaucoma. To be honest there’s so much I expect of myself.
Sometimes, I take long walks wondering if I deserve the things I truly desire, and what gives me the right to to want more from life.
During the day, I work 9 to 5 as a PA(the official title for glorified errand boys and girls) to one of the directors at a creative hub in the city where I live; more like 9 to whenever my boss decides. And at night, I juggle freelancing gigs. Still wasn’t enough to cushion the impact of the country’s present economy.
I was lost in my routines, they were a good coping mechanism. Only that all I wanted was to be a renowned photographer. To be the hands that captured the essence and soul of a thing. Well, I could dream all I wanted but as far as life goes I was stuck with the one I had.
Like every normal day, I was going about my dignified errand-girl duties at the hub when I heard someone say 'You’re gonna bloom when the sun sets right' I thought to myself in our local parlance "Sun don de shine since flower no gree bloom"
'Amina! Are you serious right now?' My boss demanded of me. I had voiced out loud without thinking.
'She’s allowed to have an opinion, Julie, let her be' someone said before I could apologize. It was Caine. The Caine(now I know what it meant to be awe-struck). I couldn’t move or say a word.
'She can be mischievous sometimes, acting as though she has some talent. I get all those anonymous entries you keep sending in but it’s never happening, at least not here.' my boss replied. 'I’d say she’s daring. Everyone deserves a chance, a place to start, Julie' Cain retorted. They went back and forth while I took in the moment, I was in the same room with The Caine.
