<<66>>
* You do what makes you happy. If you don't know what that is. You gonna have to find it. *
****
Malisa wrote her entrance examinations a week after with ease.
While waiting for the results the family of three went on a vacation to new York as, Malisa also prepared for the singing competition she was to participate in..
****
The night before the competition, Malisa couldn't sleep as she just kept tossing and turning...
Mary who was in the room with her got very worried and went out to the other room to talk to her brother about what's going on...
Aiden was just preparing to sleep when he heard the knock at the door... After finding out that the one at the door was Mary, he gave her the permission to enter .. and she did.
" Wassup, Little Mary? " Aiden inquired sitting up on the bed...
Mary didn't reply him Immediately as she walked towards his bed side and sat at his side.... " Have you ever been very nervous about something before? " She asked instead of replying to his question.
Though, Aiden was wondering why she asked this question out of the blue, he still answered her truthfully. " I have. Many times. "
" Oh... Why were you nervous? " Mary inquired staring upwards at him...
" Well... The first time I was Overcomed by intense nervousness was when I was chosen to represent the school in a spelling bee completion. " Aiden sighed before continuing.
" Though all I needed to do was spell the letters when they are called, still I was very nervous... Like really nervous. "
" Oh... So did you overcome the nervousness or did you let it get the better of you? " Mary inquired sharply.
Aiden chuckled sensing the sharpness in her tone of voice. " I Overcomed it actually. On getting to the competition, I saw many contestants like me being bold and courageous so I took summoned courage. At first I was faking it but soon, I got used to it and I stopped being nervous. "
" That's really cool! "
" Yeah... "
" What was the cause of your nervousness in the first place? " Mary asked...
" Well... I was scared of making a mistake which will cause the audience to laugh at me. I dread embarrassing myself and most importantly my school... "
" Oh... But non of this happened right? "
" Yup... I soon got to realize that fear is just a product of one's imagination... It's not real. It's a false evidence appearing real. "
" Hm... You are right. Still lots of people fall into it and let it take over their sleep! " Mary said with deeper meaning...
Aiden was able to catch the hint in her words... He patted her back with a smile... " You don't have to worry, Mali would be fine... "
" I know... But she's not currently and that's making me really worried... Like really worried. "
" I understand... Just put your mind at ease... She'll be fine... "
" If you say so... "
Somehow just as, Aiden had said.
Malisa felt less nervous the next day, infact she felt more confident than ever... Her face looked very radiant as confidence brimmed in her orbs...
Somehow after almost half the night of dealing with the what ifs she decided in her mind not to worry anymore about the outcome.
Even if she failed, she can't be called a failure since that was just her first trial and she of course was not just going to give up on her dreams because of one obstacle or many other ones.
She was going to overcome the obstacles one by one... Till she fulfills her dreams!
She would not and will never give up on her dreams!
As that's the only thing that has kept her going till now and she wasn't just going to give up on it like that..
Never!
****
" Now contestant number 27 should come on stage please. " The host called out...
Hearing this, Mary and Aiden wished, Malisa a best of luck.
" Stun them all with your angelic voice, sis! " Mary added...
Malisa smiled as she went on stage for her performance.
She choose the song, Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson.
The song meant a lot to her as she could relate it to experience in her small village...
" Grew up in a small town
And when the rain would fall down
I'd just stare out my window
Dreaming of what could be
And if I'd end up happy
I would pray (I would pray) "
As, Malisa sang the first stanza of the song... The whole entire hall fell silent...
Not only the audience but even the judges were left spellbound by her beautiful sonorous voice...
It was like the voice of a descending angel...
And when she sang the chorus... It almost felt like the whole world stopped and time stood still...
" I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes 'til I touch the sky
And I'll make a wish
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget all the ones that I love
I'll take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway. "
They all could feel the emotions In the song...
It felt like they were watching a movie about a life so spent...
How a girl broke free from culture norms and traditions...
And even when, Malisa had finished singing... The whole hall still felt very silent... As a graveyard...
Not until sounds of applause was heard from the back and soon the the whole hall bursted into thunderous applauses...
Malisa was completely stunned... She never expected this... Not in a million years...
Later, after the applause died down... The judges began speaking one at a time.
" Miss Bree... What made you choose breakaway for your performance? " One of the judges asked.
" Well... The song means a lot to me. I feel like the song had a lot to do with dreams and how sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zone to fly. "
" Hm...You are right. " The judge nodded in agreement.
" Thank you, sir. " Malisa said with a bow.
" Miss Bree... You do have a great voice.. I really commend you. "
" Thank you. " Malisa said again with a bow.
" So this is your first time in a singing contest right? " Another Judge asked.
" Yes. "
" Wow! "
Later, all the contestants were called out to the stage.
Next, the judges began discussing among themselves about their decision...
While all of this was going on, Malisa felt her heart beating rapidly continously...
" We've decided. " The head judge spoke up later on attracting everyone's attention...
" After much thoughts we've come to the decision that the one deserving of this year's NYGA is.... "
Everyone including the contestants were in anticipation for the words...
" Malisa Bree!!!! " The Judge yelled out the words...
For Malisa, it was like the entire world stopped as she watched everyone give her a standing ovation....
It wasn't until the spotlight shone on her and the decoratives began falling on her did she come back to the reality of the situation...
She... Actually won....
She did...
As she watched everyone on their feet clapping for her.
She drifted down the memory lane when everyone including her family members used to call her useless...
A mere tool... A mere child bearing too with no worth...
They called stupid when she sang... They laughed her to scorn when she spoke....
But now....
She couldn't help but recall a verse from the Bible which says...
The gift of a man will make way for him... And will enable him to seat among Kings...
Indeed... Her gift made ways for her...
She broke rules!
She stood out!
For success!
And she came out victorious!
Indeed... Dreams do come true... We just have to continually believe in the beauty of our dreams...
Because no matter how long it takes...
As long as we keep fighting for our dreams... Then it'll really come true....
We just have to remain Persistent in pursuing our dreams...
As only then can we fulfill our dreams...
So never give up on your dreams no matter the cost! Just keep Pursuing it!
....
A/N : Guys... This chapter is really so emotional....