Creative Storytelling for a Writing Competition

Amina sat up on her bed and glanced at her Infinix Note 12i; it was 5 am, at last. She had woken up several times in the middle of the night because anxiety raged within her soul all night. She picked up her phone to read the email she had received from Bayo Omoboriowo, ex-president Buhari’s official photographer, a few days ago for the umpteenth time. The email’s subject read, “Congratulations, you have been selected as one of the ten.” It was the first time in 8 years that she had recorded a win, and it looked like the universe was finally causing everything to align in her favor.

Not only was she finally getting her big break in photography as she gets to showcase some of her works alongside nine talented photographers at Bayo Omoboriowo’s exhibition later today after many years of living from hand to mouth, working her ass off doing menial jobs, sleepless nights, taking on freelancing gigs, trying to fit into the society’s standard as a 25-year-old unmarried woman struggling with her mental health while still trying to be present for her sick mother. She has also found sponsors and is getting ready to launch her foundation for young women who have gone through abuse, seeing that she also had her fair share of that growing up.

Excitedly, she jumped up. It’s happening, Amina murmured as she paced around her room and screamed internally, not wanting to frighten her aged mother.

Even though, she is anxious about how today’s exhibition will turn out, she’s grateful that she at least has a chance to make something good out of her life.

Amina, Aminaaa” her mother called out, jolting her back to reality.

Maaaaa!