Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, months into years, and on this day, Alora was seen sitting on a wooden chair on the balcony gazing into the clouds, enjoying the morning breeze as the sunrise hit her embodiment of vitality. She has grown into a very beautiful young lady. The sunrise gazed directly into her abundance of beautiful melanin passed to her by Greg and Alice.

Alora had always been different. While other girls her age played with dolls or worried about homework, she was seen standing in front of a cracked mirror, rehearsing lines from her novel and dreaming of performing on a stage. At the same time, the congregation commended her for expressing their recognition of her work.

Things took a great turn in raising her. She has dreams of becoming a great actor recognized by so many. Some day. However, her parents saw her dreams as dangerous. Her father who believed in structure and not fantasy had so much belief and faith that she would become a lawyer while her mother Alice, clung to tradition and safety.

Acting is not a career, her father would say. You will end up hungry on the streets but Alora wasn't afraid of hunger. She was afraid of living a life that didn't belong to her. She had turned nineteen, and her dream had grown beyond school plays, bedroom monologues, and rehearsing standing in front of a mirror. She wanted to audition for a youth program in her community but the response from Greg and Alice was swift and unforgiving.

They couldn't understand her passion for the stage and screen, and they didn't want that life for her. They had lived long enough to see the cruelty of the world, and in their eyes, the entertainment industry was no place for their daughter. the only child they had. a child that took them five decades to finally welcome into their lives. She was their miracle, their completeness that arrived like a whisper of hope in their old age. The little girl they had nurtured with love and provided with every necessity of parental guidance was ready to discard all these and forget her roots.

Meanwhile., Alora would sneak out from the backyard on the days her parents went out. Running with excitement to her friend's house. A building about 2 kilometers away fully surrounded by tall trees, is an open neatly swept environment where other children gather to play and talk about school activities. Every other child sees Alora as weird and funny mainly because she would always go to the corner of the building saying things to herself. Zima her close friend has always been supportive and helped her carry out some novel plays.it wasn’t long and the children gathered in a circle, playfully clapping while asking each other what they would like to be in future.no other except Alora chose a different line of career path and yet again all other children jokingly laughed at her.

But it didn’t stop there.,As Greg who has always showered Alora with so much love, care, and parental support had other plans for his daughter.

GREG’s POV:

Putting in blood and sweat working my way through struggles to make sure you end up successful as a lawyer. “Greg said” to Alora who was sitting an inch away from him while Alice was busy braiding her hair neatly like an African traditional woman.

Read your books well and always pay attention in class so that you will come out in flying colors. Becoming successful in life must come with putting in every hard work putting including studying your books. Your mother and I promised each other to go to any length to provide all you need because until we are no more…..you are our only priority. But Alora was scared, acted unsettled., for what her heart desires might crush the hopes of her parent.

Night had fallen, and Alice had come back from getting groceries for the house. On opening the door to the sitting room, she saw Alora in a performative state with all concentration playing out a role from the book she was holding with so much confidence and passion.

ALICE’s POV

Seeing how dedicated this child has grown into, makes me rethink on what actions Greg would take when he finally sees through alora’s vision.

This is the perfect time to have a talk with her.not have i just been paying attention to her behaviors but even when blind, i can really tell of a child i carried in my womb for nine months and birthed.having thought of the too many times i caught her doing explicitly contrary to what her father and i has envisioned her to become, i know i must step in to redirect her as a mother and best friend.knowing how long it took me to conceive her and finally having a complete little family, i wont stand and watch her turn a bad leaf because of something that could be averted at an early stage.

Alora come and help me out “Alice said” from the kitchen with her head stretched out calling Alora for assistance still in the sitting room.things took a great turn by Alora running into the kitchen uttering with so much excitement “i was chosen “ hugging and living me with so much confusion.immediately asked what was the excitement all about and making sure to listen attentively hoping to hear she has been graced with the opportunity to study law on scholarship.

After writing my senior secondary certificate examination, i was chosen by my school and six other pipul who topped chart in the state waec examination for 3 out of the students to be chosen on scholarship to study law overseas.my parents had put in much work keeping up late nights helping me study with uthmost dedication and taking my lessons seriously.as at the time of the examination when the head of my school had called and told my parents about this opportunity, i was literally one of the happiest student.so proud to be among the top six preferred genius to be graced with such opportunity.