The night stretched endlessly for Daisy Collins. She lay in bed, eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling as the faint glow of the streetlamp outside her window painted shadows across the room. Every answer she had given in the interview replayed in her mind on an endless loop.
Was I too nervous when I spoke about the project? Did I talk too much? What if they didn't like my confidence? What if someone else was better?
The questions gnawed at her, each one pulling her further from sleep. She turned onto her side, hugging her pillow tightly. Outside, the faint hum of traffic had quieted, but inside her chest, her heart kept racing.
Unable to bear the silence, Daisy reached for her phone and slipped in her earphones. With a few taps, she found herself listening to the one thing that always gave her courage—Charlie Smith's songs. His voice filled her small room, deep and powerful yet carrying something unspoken, something raw.
Each lyric seemed to echo her own feelings of doubt and hope, of wanting more from life. He sings like he knows what it means to be broken and still rise again, she thought, letting the melody wash over her.
Her eyes softened, and for the first time that night, a calmness settled over her. She whispered to herself, If he can keep going despite everything, then so can I.
With Charlie's music playing softly in her ears, Daisy finally drifted into a light, restless sleep, hope clinging to her heart.
---
Morning arrived too quickly. The alarm buzzed, and Daisy sat up, rubbing her tired eyes. The soft rays of dawn spilled into her room, but she felt no energy, only the lingering heaviness of a sleepless night.
She reached for her glasses and slipped them on, her heart beating faster as she remembered—today could be the day. Her laptop sat on the desk, waiting. She walked toward it, her legs heavy, her breath shallow.
"Come on, Daisy… just check it," she whispered, though fear coiled inside her.
With trembling hands, she opened her laptop and logged into her email. The screen flickered, the inbox loading slowly, agonizingly. Then, there it was—an unread message with the subject line:
"Congratulations – Selection at Insight Times Media."
Her eyes widened, her breath catching. She clicked it open, her hands covering her mouth as she read the words:
"Dear Miss Collins, we are delighted to inform you that you have been selected as a Junior Reporter at Insight Times Media. Your dedication and vision impressed the panel. We look forward to welcoming you on board."
For a moment, Daisy just sat there, stunned. Then tears filled her eyes, and a laugh escaped her lips. She pressed her palms together, whispering, "Thank you… thank you."
---
Rushing out of her room, she nearly collided with her brother in the hallway.
"Whoa, what's with the face?" David asked, blinking.
"I got it!" Daisy cried, pulling him into a hug. "I got the job!"
David stumbled back, his messy hair sticking up. "Seriously? That's amazing!"
By now, her parents and grandmother had gathered, drawn by the commotion. Nancy wiped her hands on her apron, her eyes wide. "What happened?"
Daisy's voice trembled with joy as she held up her laptop screen. "I've been selected, Mom. Insight Times Media wants me."
Her father's stern expression melted into pride. "That's my daughter," he said, his voice thick.
Her grandmother clasped her hands together, eyes shining. "I told you, child. Destiny rewards those who never stop fighting."
Nancy rushed forward, hugging Daisy tightly. "You've made us so proud, sweetheart. This is only the beginning."
David smirked, though his eyes glimmered with pride. "Guess the bossy sister finally gets to boss around the world too."
Daisy laughed through her tears, pulling them all into one big family hug. Her heart swelled with a happiness she had only dreamed of.
As she looked around at the faces of her loved ones, Daisy realized this wasn't just her victory—it was theirs. For her parents, who had sacrificed to give her an education. For her grandmother, who had never stopped believing in her. For her brother, whose future she wanted to protect.
And deep inside, Daisy felt it—this was the first step toward the destiny she had been chasing.
---
Far across the city, Charlie Smith was already stepping onto another stage, preparing for another day of music. His voice, the same one that had given Daisy strength through the night, carried across countless hearts.
Neither knew it yet, but destiny had already started weaving their stories together.