The Competition Day
490 Words
Episode 4
Saturday morning came faster than Maya expected. She barely slept the night before, her mind filled with excitement and nerves. The award ceremony was being held at the Durban Art Centre, a place she had only ever seen in pictures.
She woke up early, ironed her best outfit a simple white blouse and black jeans and brushed her hair until it looked neat. Emily helped her pick a pair of earrings that used to belong to their mother. “You look beautiful,” Emily said, smiling proudly. “Go make us proud.”
Her mother gave her a small lunchbox and whispered, “No matter what happens, you’ve already won.”
The taxi ride to town felt long. Maya kept staring out the window, watching the city grow bigger with every turn. Her heart beat faster as she thought about seeing her photo displayed in front of strangers.
When she arrived at the Art Centre, she saw other young photographers setting up their work. Some had big cameras hanging from their necks, others had expensive equipment and then there was Maya, with her old phone in her pocket. For a moment, she felt small. But then she remembered her mother’s words. You’ve already won.
The room was filled with colorful photos sunsets, street art, children, markets, and city lights. Maya spotted hers on the far wall: the little boy chasing his soccer ball. Seeing it printed and framed made her heart swell with pride.
As the judges walked around, Maya stood quietly near her photo, her hands shaking a little. One of the judges, a woman in her thirties wearing a bright yellow dress, stopped in front of Maya’s work. She looked at the photo for a long time before turning to her.
“This is beautiful,” the woman said softly. “Did you take this with a phone?”
Maya nodded shyly. “Yes, ma’am. I don’t have a camera yet.”
The woman smiled. “You don’t need one. You’ve got an eye for real stories.”
Those words stayed with her.
After a few speeches, the host began announcing the winners. Maya’s stomach tightened as they called out the names. Third place… second place… then finally
“And first place goes to… Maya Adams for her photo ‘Joy in the Dust’!
The room erupted in applause. Maya froze, not sure whether to cry or laugh. She walked up to the stage, her heart pounding, and accepted the certificate and envelope. She could barely believe it R5,000 and mentorship with a professional photographer.
When she returned home later that evening, her family was waiting at the door with smiles, hugs, and tears. “We told you!” Emily shouted. “Our Maya did it!”
That night, Maya sat by her window holding the certificate. She looked up at the stars and whispered,
“This is just the beginning. The real adventure starts now.
- Writer
