This is an original story writen by me.
What i see in the picture is someone who is standing, wearing a cardigan, with a travel bag beside and a school bag. Standing beside him also is a man in similar but not exact outfit trying to navigate his phone. I also think they are standing by the road side probably waiting for a bus or someone to pick them up. Right in front of them is a city. It seems they just arrived the city.
I wrote a story to express what i feel about this picture. Enjoy the read.
Image was created by @wakeupkitty who is the host of this contest.
DREAM BIG
As Ibrahim grew up, he was daily fascinated and intrigued to be out of the shores of Nigeria. Because of his curiosity, nothing made sense to him rather than see himself offshore adored in mufflers, thick cardigans, hand gloves and the rest of it. He always knew he could not achieve his dream just like that without being smart. To be able to Jakpa (travel) off the geography of Nigeria as a young man without going through due process required strategy, diligence and smartness.
So he began to think of many options. While growing up, he had seen on the news many who made attempts to leave the country by sneaking into plane tires, and ships because to be able to leave legitimately without the authorities being enemy of your progress, this was the only means. Very risky indeed. But it felt cool to Ibrahim. No matter the hardship it would bring, the result was worth it. In the midst of contemplating various means, transporting hard drugs was not an option as well. Ibrahim was brought up from a very disciplined average family. He could not risk it. Amidst several options, Ibrahim thought to engage in Organ Transplant. Very lucrative, easy access legitimately from the authorities plus a house, car, and an average paying job abroad. But again, his spirit told him...
IBRO, WHAT IF UPON TWO MONTHS OF ARRIVAL YOUR REMAINING KIDNEY DISAPPOINTS YOU?
Credit must be given to Ibrahim for thinking through all ideas that crossed his mind. As a result, Ibrahim resolved that traveling abroad was for only the rich masses. This was an impediment because his parents could only averagely afford the basic amenities within Nigeria. So he resolved to cut his size according to his coat or his coat according to his size. Ibrahim realized that in life, not all dreams come through. Not all the plans you have in mind always go as planned. Interruptions happen as a result of human and natural interventions. But Ibro surprised everyone because some potion of him kept telling him one day, he will achieve his dreams. It must have been his shadows deceiving.
When Ibro got into tertiary institution, his hopes we're revived. Scholarships opportunities we're presented to him and as a result he made sure to perform very excellently just to qualify for scholarship abroad. Unfortunately, Ibrahim found him self in an institution where students can never score past a B grade. Because A Score was for the Lecturer alone and B for the best students. This became a problem for Ibro because foreign scholarships goes to the A students.
No matter how hard he tried, he ended up in a fuss with lecturers, and soon he gave up the dream. But then, he had soaked himself into achieving academic excellence. The dream was no longer there, but Ibrahim undoubtedly and unchallenged became the best student of his time. He decided to channel the energy into helping other students who found it challenging to cope at school. This is how Ibrahim continued until he met Maureen. From general tutorials they became friend. From friend, it graduated to personal tutorials and then something friends with emotional connection. Then it became romantic and then a serious relationship between the two. It had become like they were the source of each other.
But then, Ibro's hope was revived when his institution received an invitation to a competition. Ibrahim was chosen to represent the Institution. A few weeks later, it was discovered that Maureen had become a carrier of little Ibrahim. His hopes shattered once again. Should I leave a young pregnant woman or stay with her?
From younger years, Ibro had mastered the art of thinking, so he thought it through and gave up his dream of going abroad. So he declined representing the institution just to be with Maureen. It became so though for Ibrahim because he had to take responsibilities beyond himself especially that his parents didn't bother to provide extra for him. It was the words of his father that since he can reproduce, let him reproduce his resources and take care of his reproductions. It was so though, but thank God for the support of Maureen. Maureen deferred her Program by a year.
Ibrahim was able to round up his program and immediately, he received an invitation for a job abroad. It turned out that the competition he was supposed to attend, took particular interest in Ibrahim, waited for him to round up school, so they invited him over to take the job. Travel ticket, house, several allowances attached to the job, entitled to travel with a wife only. When Ibro broke the news to Maureen, he proposed to her, but she declined. Ibro has just arrived. Should he proceed or go back to his Maureen in Nigeria?
This is my entry for the weekly contest ongoing in @freewrites. The contesg is up until October 12, 2023.