Contest Entries 2018

Chicklit Weekly Prompt: 25

"As I walked away, I knew I would never see them again."

College. Work. Family. Those were the three most important things in my life at the moment. The three things that my mother wanted me to focus on. But I differed.

All throughout my life, I had always loved music. From when I was little pretending to be at a concert with my family, to playing the piano and posting Youtube videos of my singing. However, when my mother had found out, it all got taken away through a flicker of a carefully manicured hand, and before I knew it, it was gone.

You see, she was always obsessed with me becoming a doctor. I still remember during my teen years when she would force me to study non-stop when I returned home. Though those awful days were over, that didn't mean she stopped pestering me on the phone when I'd finished my classes. But her antics have proven successful, as I'm now a medical student at one of the most prestigious colleges in the USA. But there's a difference between putting your heart and soul into something, and blandly doing it, however well you accomplish it. And that was what mother didn't understand.

Although, as I'm walking down the usual bustling streets clad with families and clusters of people all briskly walking along, I did know where my mother was coming from. She, growing up in a rather poor family from India, only wanted the best for her child. Since I was an only child as well, with the absence of my long-gone father, it had been immensely hard for her to cope with raising me. And I pride myself in knowing that she is my mother, and I do respect her; and so that is why I am also now states away from her in a completely new world, with a whole different atmosphere.

As I crossed the road, I began to notice a crowd forming at a nearby building. "Chaos," it read. Ah, that was one of the new pubs that had opened up recently. But why was it bursting with people, especially at this time of day, when school ended for younger kids? I stood on the edges of my tip-toes, in hope that I would be able to see something. In fact, I was so distracted that I didn't notice a young man come striding towards me, and inevitably, he stumbled into me. I gasped, bracing myself for the fall, but strong firm hands held my waist in place, and looking up, it was the handsome stranger.

"Good day, isn't it?" he said in a almost too cheery voice.

"Uh–" I trailed off, not really sure what to say. After all, what would one say after bumping into someone, without uttering an apology at least.

He flashed me a warm smile. "Ah, are you looking over at the music contest over there?" He shuffled back to glance up at the sign. "Do you sing?"

I glanced questioningly. "Yes?"

His smile brightened. He brandished a card out of his pocket. "Here," he clasped it firmly in my palm, "consider this my apology for bumping into you. Just give it to the guards and they'll let you in." He patted my shoulder encouragingly.

What? Was this some sort of trick? I had no idea what was going on, but I knew one thing: I needed to get back home and study.

I shook my head. "I'm really sorry sir," I dropped the card back into his hand, "but I'd prefer not to." I shifted nervously. Maybe this was genuine, and I'd robbed myself off of an amazing opportunity for my potential singing career. But it wasn't worth it. All those years training hard to get into this college would be wasted. I'd have to sacrifice my wants in the process. I shot him a fleeting smile before turning back and walking hastily towards the group of buildings opposite me.

The man stared dumbfoundedly at me, his arm still outstretched with the card. I tried not to watch as a group of girls pointed over at him, and began immersing themselves in a deep conversation. I turned my head sharply as he gave the same card he'd shown me to the group of girls who then excitedly rushed over to the pub.

I sighed as I let my feet plod forward one step at a time. It was then that I realised I'd never see that man, nor those group of officials, and not even the girls again. After all, the music industry was tough; it'd all be over today. I'd never get an opportunity like that again, and I'd carelessly thrown it away.