Chapter 6: Chances
1359 Words
Morning sunlight poured softly through the old curtains as Laura moved quietly around the small house.
The weekend had barely begun, yet she had already been awake since dawn.
She tied her hair loosely while carrying freshly washed clothes from the backyard, the cool morning breeze brushing gently against her face. Inside the kitchen, the smell of fried eggs and warm bread filled the house while soft music played quietly from an old radio.
Her grandmother sat at the dining table peeling vegetables slowly.
“You should rest more, Grandma,” Laura said softly while placing plates onto the table.
The older woman smiled faintly. “And let my granddaughter do everything alone?”
Laura laughed quietly.
Even though her grandmother tried to act normal, Laura could see the exhaustion beneath her eyes. Yesterday’s long trip to the hospital in the city had clearly drained her energy.
After breakfast, Laura gently guided her grandmother toward the sofa.
“Just sit here today.”
“I’m not that old yet,” her grandmother complained weakly.
“You almost fell asleep while drinking tea.”
“…That was one time.”
Laura smiled warmly before covering her grandmother’s legs with a blanket.
A short while later, the front door opened without warning.
“Laura!”
Emma’s cheerful voice filled the house instantly.
Laura turned just in time to see her best friend entering with books in her arms and snacks stuffed inside her bag.
“You came early again,” Laura said.
“Because if I leave you alone with homework, you’ll overthink your entire future before lunch.”
Laura sighed. “You know me too well.”
The two girls settled on the floor near the coffee table, spreading notebooks and papers everywhere while Laura’s grandmother rested quietly on the sofa nearby with her eyes closed.
At first, they focused seriously on homework.
But eventually…
Laura became distracted.
Emma noticed immediately.
“You’re thinking about Walton’s Prestige Academy again, aren’t you?”
Laura lowered her pencil slowly.
Then quietly, she told Emma everything.
About Mr. Johansen.
About the academy.
About the studio recordings and professional guidance, she needed.
And especially—
The money.
Emma listened carefully the entire time.
When Laura finished speaking, silence settled briefly between them.
Then Emma suddenly straightened.
“I’ll help you.”
Laura blinked. “What?”
“I’m serious,” Emma said firmly. “We can figure it out together. My parents might even—”
“No.”
Laura interrupted immediately.
Emma frowned.
“Laura—”
“I said no.”
Her voice wasn’t angry.
Just firm.
Laura lowered her gaze toward her hands.
“I don’t want to owe anyone that much money,” she admitted quietly. “Not even you.”
Emma’s expression softened slightly.
“You wouldn’t owe me.”
“But I would feel like I do,” Laura whispered. “And I don’t even know when I could pay you back.”
The room became quiet again.
Laura sighed softly, frustration and helplessness weighing heavily inside her chest.
Maybe dreams really were meant for people with money.
Maybe talent alone was never enough.
Then suddenly—
Rustling sounds came from the sofa.
Both girls looked up.
Laura’s grandmother slowly sat upright.
“…Grandma?”
The older woman didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, she quietly stood and walked toward her room.
Laura and Emma exchanged confused looks.
A few minutes later, her grandmother returned holding an old wooden box carefully against her chest.
The woman sat down slowly before placing it onto the table.
Her wrinkled hands trembled slightly as she opened it.
Inside were neatly stacked savings books, envelopes, and bundles of carefully preserved money.
Laura’s eyes widened.
“Grandma…”
The older woman smiled gently.
“I saved this over many years,” she said softly. “Originally, it was meant for my son if he ever wanted to continue his studies.”
Her smile turned bittersweet.
“But your father chose a different life.”
She pushed the box slowly toward Laura.
“So now… I want you to have it.”
Laura froze completely.
“No, Grandma, I can’t—”
“Yes, you can.”
Her grandmother’s voice remained soft but firm.
“You have a dream, Laura.”
Tears slowly gathered in the older woman’s-tired eyes.
“And I want to see you reach it while I still can.”
Laura felt her throat tighten painfully.
“This is your life savings…”
“And what better reason is there to use it?” her grandmother whispered. “Money exists to help the people we love.”
Emma quietly looked away, giving them privacy.
Laura stared at the box helplessly before looking back at her grandmother.
The older woman smiled warmly despite her exhaustion.
“Please accept it sincerely,” she said. “Your grandfather and I worked hard our whole lives. If this can help our granddaughter sing without regret… then it’s worth everything.”
Laura’s vision blurred instantly.
Without realizing it, tears slid down her cheeks.
She moved quickly from the floor and wrapped her arms around her grandmother carefully.
“Thank you…” she whispered shakily. “Thank you so much…”
Her grandmother held her gently, stroking her hair like when she was still a little girl.
And for the first time since hearing about Walton’s Prestige Academy—
Laura finally allowed herself to believe that her dream might truly begin.
After the emotional moment with her grandmother, the atmosphere inside the small house slowly became lighter again.
Laura must have thanked her grandmother at least twenty times before lunchtime.
“Thank you, Grandma…”
“Alright already,” the older woman laughed softly while cutting fruit in the kitchen. “If you thank me again, I might start charging you interest.”
Emma burst out laughing from the dining table.
Laura covered her embarrassed face instantly. “Grandma!”
The old woman smiled warmly.
Seeing Laura’s eyes shining with hope again made every year of saving money worth it.
Soon, the girls returned to their homework scattered across the table. Mathematics worksheets mixed with music notes while Emma occasionally stole Laura’s snacks whenever she wasn’t looking.
“You’re eating all my biscuits.”
“I’m supporting your future emotionally.”
“That doesn’t even make sense.”
“It does to me.”
Their laughter filled the house gently, bringing life back into the quiet little home.
By noon, sunlight poured brightly through the windows while Laura’s grandmother rested nearby with a peaceful expression this time, no longer pretending she hadn’t overheard everything earlier.
Emma suddenly tapped her pencil against the notebook.
“Oh right,” she said. “Dad’s going to the city tomorrow morning.”
Laura looked up.
“For work?”
“Mhm. And I need to go too because he promised to help me buy supplies for school.”
Emma’s eyes brightened immediately afterward.
“That means we can drop you off at the studio Mr. Johansen recommended!”
Laura blinked.
“The studio…”
Just hearing the word made her nervous again.
The recording process suddenly felt real now.
Emma leaned closer excitedly.
“You should go tomorrow. Start the process early.”
Laura hesitated slightly.
“What if they think I’m not good enough?”
Emma stared at her blankly for two seconds.
Then—
“Laura.”
“…What?”
“You literally make people emotional by humming quietly during lunch break.”
Laura looked away shyly.
Emma pointed dramatically at her.
“Even Mr. Johansen looked like he discovered treasure after hearing your recording.”
“That’s exaggerated.”
“It’s not.”
Laura smiled faintly despite herself.
Deep down, fear still lingered inside her chest.
But now…
There was excitement too.
Tomorrow would be the first real step toward Walton’s Prestige Academy.
Not just a dream anymore.
A beginning.
Laura glanced toward her grandmother resting peacefully nearby and felt warmth spread quietly through her heart again.
She would work hard.
No matter what happened.
Because too many people had started believing in her for her to give up now.
- Writer
