Liya woke up to the sound of her mother bustling in the kitchen, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and akara wafting through the air. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, feeling the weight of expectations settle on her shoulders. Her mother, Ama, had always dreamed of her becoming a doctor, just like her father, who had passed away when Liya was a child. Liya swung her legs over the side of the bed, her feet touching the cool floor. She stared at the wall, her eyes tracing the patterns of the faded wallpaper. She felt suffocated by the pressure, the constant reminders of what she was supposed to be. The Abati girl, the one with the bright future, the one who would make her family proud.
She stood up, her eyes catching the reflection in the mirror. A stranger stared back, a girl with dark eyes and a hesitant smile. Liya didn't recognize herself anymore. She was lost in the sea of expectations, struggling to find her own voice.
Ama poked her head into the room, a warm smile on her face. "Good morning, Liya! Breakfast is ready. You have a big day ahead of you."
Liya forced a smile, trying to hide the turmoil brewing inside. "I'm coming, Mom."
As they sat at the table, Ama launched into a familiar speech, her voice a gentle but persistent reminder of the day's agenda. "You need to focus on your studies, Liya. Your future is at stake. You can't waste time on those art classes anymore."
Liya's grip on her cup tightened, the coffee growing cold in her hands. She had tried to explain her passion for art, the way it made her feel, but Ama wouldn't understand. To her, it was a hobby, a distraction from the "real" work.
The tension between them was palpable, a constant hum that filled the air. Liya's eyes wandered to the old wooden cabinet, where her father's medical books still sat, a reminder of the legacy she was expected to carry on.
She stood up, her chair scraping against the floor. "I'll try, Mom. I promise."
Ama's eyes softened, a glimmer of hope shining through. "I just want what's best for you, Liya. I want you to be happy."
Liya nodded, feeling the weight of her mother's expectations crushing her. She slipped out of the house, into the bustling streets, searching for a place to clear her head.
The sun beat down on her, the city's sounds a cacophony of chaos and beauty. Liya felt a flutter in her chest, a sense of freedom she couldn't quite grasp. She walked, lost in thought, until she found herself standing before a small art studio, the sign creaking in the breeze.
Akira's Art Studio. She had passed by it before, intrigued by the vibrant colors and the sounds of laughter and music that spilled out onto the street. Liya took a deep breath, feeling a sense of curiosity wash over her. She pushed open the door, stepping into a world of color and light, and let the weight of expectations fade, if only for a moment.As she stood there, she noticed a flyer on the bulletin board, an announcement for an art competition. The grand prize was a scholarship to a prestigious art school in Lagos. Liya's heart skipped a beat as she read the details, her mind racing with possibilities.
She felt a spark of determination ignite within her. She would enter the competition, no matter what Ama said. She would show her mother, show herself, that she was more than just a doctor in the making.
With a newfound sense of purpose, Liya turned and walked out of the studio, the city's sounds and colors more vibrant than ever before.