Dreams Begin To Bloom
1644 Words
The journey to the city took nearly three hours.
The closer they got, the faster Tiana's heart raced.
Tall buildings replaced rocky hills.
Busy streets replaced quiet roads.
Everything felt bigger.
Faster.
More intimidating.
When they finally arrived at the audition venue, dozens of young men and women were already waiting outside.
Some carried professional portfolios.
Others wore expensive designer clothes.
Many spoke confidently about previous acting jobs.
Tiana suddenly became aware of how simple she looked.
She lowered her eyes.
"Maybe I don't belong here."
Adrian gently touched her shoulder.
"You belong wherever your dream takes you."
She took a deep breath.
"I'll try."
Inside the audition hall, the atmosphere was tense.
One by one, hopeful actors walked into the audition room and came out wearing different expressions.
Some smiled.
Others fought back tears.
A production assistant finally called.
"Tiana Adebayo."
Her legs suddenly felt weak.
"You can do this," Adrian whispered.
She nodded and walked inside.
Three judges sat behind a long table.
None of them smiled.
"Name?" one asked without looking up.
"Tiana Adebayo."
"Experience?"
"School dramas... church performances... community theatre."
The judges looked at each other briefly.
"Whenever you're ready."
Tiana closed her eyes for a second.
Then she began.
She poured every emotion into the scene
a daughter pleading with her father to let her follow her dreams.
She cried.
She laughed.
For a few minutes, she forgot she was auditioning.
She simply became the character.
When she finished, silence filled the room.
One judge jotted a note.
Another looked at his watch.
The third simply said,
"Thank you."
"That's... all?"
"Yes."
She forced a smile.
"Thank you."
As she walked out, she knew there was no hope.
Hours later, everyone gathered around a notice board as the final list of successful candidates was pinned to the wall.
Tiana pushed through the crowd.
Her eyes scanned every line.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Her name wasn't there.
She checked again.
Nothing.
The excitement she had carried from Meirean Hills slowly disappeared.
Around her, successful applicants hugged one another.
Some called their families with joyful news.
Tiana quietly stepped away from the crowd.
She sat alone on a concrete bench outside the building, staring at the audition slip in her hand.
For the first time since she was a little girl standing in front of a cracked mirror...
she wondered if everyone else had been right.
Maybe dreams weren't enough.
Maybe talent wasn't enough.
Maybe Meirean Hills was as far as she was ever meant to go.
A single tear rolled down her cheek.
She quickly wiped it away before anyone could see.
But she didn't know that someone already had.
Adrian.
Standing a few meters away, he watched silently.
He didn't rush to speak.
He knew some heartbreaks needed a moment of silence before words could begin to heal them.
Tiana remained seated on the concrete bench outside the audition venue, her eyes fixed on the crumpled audition slip in her hands.
Around her, successful applicants laughed, hugged one another, and posed for photographs. Their joy felt like a painful reminder of her own disappointment.
Adrian walked over quietly and sat beside her.
For a few moments, neither of them spoke.
The silence said enough.
Finally, Tiana let out a shaky breath.
"I wasn't good enough."
Adrian turned to her.
"Who told you that?"
She gave a bitter laugh.
"The list."
He shook his head.
"No. The list only says you weren't chosen today."
She looked at him, tears welling in her eyes.
"What's the difference?"
"The difference is that one is temporary, and the other is permanent."
She stared at the ground.
"I gave them everything."
"I know."
"I practiced for weeks."
"I know."
"I believed this was my chance."
"I know."
Her voice broke.
"What if this is all I'm ever going to be? Just a girl from Meirean Hills pretending she'll become somebody."
Adrian gently took the audition slip from her hand and smoothed out its creases.
"Tiana, do you know why I admire you so much?"
She wiped her tears.
"Why?"
"Because you dream without limits."
He looked toward the busy street.
"Most people spend their lives wondering, 'What if?'"
Then he looked back at her.
"You've never been afraid to ask, 'Why not me?'"
She managed a faint smile.
"But today... it wasn't me."
"No."
He smiled gently.
"It wasn't."
She sighed.
"So maybe I should stop."
Adrian stood and held out his hand.
"Come with me."
Curious, she took his hand.
They walked a short distance until they reached the front of the building. High above the entrance was a large billboard featuring one of the country's most famous actresses.
Adrian pointed to it.
"Do you think she got every audition she ever attended?"
Tiana looked up at the smiling face on the billboard.
"I don't know."
"I don't either."
He smiled.
"But I know one thing."
"What?"
"She didn't become famous by giving up after her first rejection."
Tiana was quiet.
"You know," Adrian continued, "when I was learning carpentry with my uncle, I ruined more chairs than I built."
She laughed softly.
"I remember."
"I wanted to quit."
"What changed your mind?"
"My uncle told me something I'll never forget."
He paused.
"'Failure isn't the opposite of success. It's part of the journey to success.'"
Tiana repeated the words in a whisper.
"Part of the journey..."
Adrian nodded.
"One audition doesn't decide your future."
A tear rolled down Tiana's cheek.
This time, she didn't wipe it away.
Instead, she smiled.
"You always know the right thing to say."
Adrian chuckled.
"No."
"I just know the person I'm talking to."
She closed the notebook and took a deep breath.
"So... what now?"
He grinned.
"Now?"
He pointed toward the bus park.
"We go home."
"And tomorrow?"
"You practice again."
"And after that?"
"You attend another audition."
She smiled wider.
"And if they reject me again?"
"I'll still be there."
"And again?"
"I'll still be there."
"And again?"
He laughed.
"Tiana Adebayo..."
He looked into her eyes with complete sincerity.
"I'll keep believing in your dream until the day the whole world believes in it too."
For the first time since seeing the rejection list, hope returned to Tiana's heart.
She slipped her hand into his as they walked toward the bus.
The journey home felt much shorter than the one that had brought them there.
She hadn't landed the role.
But she had found something even more valuable.
As they reached the old mango tree, Adrian stopped.
"Tiana."
She turned to him.
"I've been meaning to tell you something."
"What is it?"
He let out a nervous laugh. "I like you”.
“I like you too”.
“No, I like - like you”.
She looked at him for a moment before smiling.
"I was beginning to wonder when you'd finally say it."
Adrian blinked. "So... is that a yes?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
A wide grin spread across his face.
"I'm happy," he admitted.
"So am I."
They continued walking home side by side, their hands brushing until Adrian finally reached for hers. This time, she didn't pull away.
Three days later, while Tiana was helping her mother in the kitchen, the house phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Good afternoon. Is this Tiana Adebayo?"
"Yes, speaking."
"My name is Mrs. Okafor. We saw your performance at the Meirean Hills Cultural Festival. We'd like you to attend an audition in Lagos next Saturday."
For a second, Tiana couldn't find her voice.
"Are... are you serious?"
"We'll be expecting you."
The call ended.
She slowly lowered the receiver and looked at Adrian, who had just walked into the compound.
"I got another audition."
Adrian smiled.
"I told you your time would come."
- Writer
