Write a Book in a Day 2017

hobby. It was because of this that Charlie had applied for the marathon scholarship behind her mother’s back. She had never thought that her mother would refuse to let her open the letter. “Doesn’t she understand that this is what I want? I don’t want to be a doctor! I want to be a marathon runner! How am I meant to achieve anything if my own mother doesn’t believe I can do it?” Charlie exploded. A flash of anger passed through her as she frantically paced up and down the dusty floorboards. She had grown up being told that people would dismiss her because of her skin colour. She had grown up with hisses in her ears about the wrongness of her nationality, as if being Asian was a crime. She had come to understand that the world was not good, not fair. But she was unable to get used to the prejudice against her, and the derogatory slurs thrown her way. It was all too much. The floodgates had opened. Charlie collapsed onto the wooden floor, her body heaving with sobs. Burying her face in her hands, she felt a comforting touch on her shaking shoulder. She silently thanked the skies for giving her someone like Riley in her life. Of all people, he would know what it was like to have his future handed to him by people who cared nothing of what he wanted. Riley understood her, even after all these years.

“How did you convince your mum to let you do music?” She sniffed.

“I didn’t,” he admitted.

Charlie’s head snapped up. “But… but I hear your guitar at night. I hear you practicing.”

“That doesn’t mean Mum’s happy about it,” he shrugged. “She still wants me to pick up the family trade.” He shook his head and chuckled at the absurdity. “I mean, can you imagine me, a mechanic?” Looking at his shaggy long hair and Nirvana t-shirt, Charlie laughed along with him. “Nah,” he continued, “she doesn’t want a rock star for a son.” He laughed, but Charlie saw the struggle he faced. Music was his dream. He’d wanted to be a rock star for as long as Charlie had wanted to be a marathon runner. They’d both worked so hard to achieve their dreams, but their parents proved to be unavoidable obstacles in their paths. Suddenly the patter of rain on the roof ceased and the sun broke through the clouds, emitting a single ray, and reflecting on a strange object half hidden by a tattered cardboard box. Riley stepped closer to investigate, only to turn around with a mischievous smile. “You’ll never believe what I just found!”

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