Chapter 8: The First Payment
308 Words
Naomi woke up before the sun rose. Her phone was still in her hand from the night before. She had fallen asleep while staring at the screen, hoping something would change.
For a moment she forgot everything — the hospital bills, the writing, the waiting.
Then she opened her eyes and quickly unlocked her phone.
Her heart started beating faster.
There was a new notification.
“Payment Received.”
Naomi sat up so quickly she almost dropped the phone.
Her hands trembled as she opened the message. She looked at the amount again and again to make sure she wasn’t imagining it.
Five dollars.
It wasn’t a lot to most people, but to Naomi it felt like someone had opened a door she thought was locked forever.
Tears slowly filled her eyes.
She whispered to herself, “It worked… I actually did it.”
For the first time in weeks, Naomi felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time.
Hope.
She quickly checked the platform again. The message from the client was simple:
“Great work. More chapters coming.”
Naomi smiled.
More chapters meant more work.
More work meant more money.
She jumped off the bed and hurried to the kitchen where her mother was making tea.
“Mama,” Naomi said, trying to hide her excitement.
Her mother looked up. “What is it?”
Naomi held up her phone.
“I got paid.”
Her mother’s eyes widened.
For a few seconds she didn’t say anything. Then she pulled Naomi into a tight hug.
“I’m proud of you,” she whispered.
Naomi closed her eyes.
It was only five dollars.
But it felt like the beginning of something much bigger.
That morning Naomi opened her laptop, ready to write again.
Because now she knew one thing for sure.
This was just the start.
- Writer
