...Finally I have achieved my greatest triumph

Hailey walked home with a bright smile. She just won herself a first place at a talent competition. She was going to tell her parents the very special news. But little did she know,that one news will change her peaceful 17 years forever.

"No, you will not waste your life on such a foolish thing as singing!" Hailey's father reprimanded her. "But, I know that singing is what I want to do, as my career, my life. I know you want me to be a doctor, but since the first time I sang in that competition, all I want to do in my life is sing!" said Hailey, hoping her father would understand. Yet her father refused to stand down, "if you want to sing, then don"t come home. You"ll learn that life is a lot more tougher outside this house, the real world."

Suddenly, Hailey ran in to her room. She took out the luggage and packed a few things. Also , she took her piggy bank. "I will do it dad, I will not come home, I will fulfill my dream. I"ll let you see that I am capable of becoming a singer in life,"she kept repeating. She carried her bag and walked into the living room. Hailey looked at her mother who was in tears , her father filled with rage and her innocent little brother. Without a word, she stepped out of the house into the dark, silent night.

She had no place to stay. It was already 11 o'clock at night, no one would want a doorbell ringing just when they're drifting into their dreams. She walked to a nearby bus station. Into a dark corridor she went, where smoke of a cigarette from a homeless man puffed. There were many beggars but she found a small corner to sleep for the night

"Girl... wake up...hurry up..."Hailey heard a voice, waking her up uncomfortable sleep. It was a cleaner from the bus station. "Sweetie, you better get away from here. This is not a place for you and the security guard will be chasing people," warned the cleaner while pushing a few bucks into Hailey's hand. Hailey thanked her and bid goodbye to the sweet old lady. She knew where to go next. She had to find a place to live first and knew where to look.

After an hour of walking and bus riding, Hailey stopped in front of a house. There was a board hanging on the gate, written "Rooms For Rent, call Mr. Shawn, o12-5335148". She didn't call anyone but knocked on the door. A voice answered from within the house, "come in." She went into the house and looked around. It was quite new, everything was clean and tidy. It was not what she had expected, especially from a man living alone. "From the looks of it, are you interested in renting a room?" the man called Shawn came out from the kitchen. Hailey answered, "yes, how much would I need to pay?" Shawn said it would cost 350 dollars per month. Hailey felt a little lucky because she had been saving for the past 2 years, her pocket money from the part time jobs.

The next day, Hailey rode a bus to the city center. She went straight to the place where she will be one step closer to fulfilling her dream. It was the XX Academy. This is the place that provides training and courses for people who have a talent in arts. She signed in and was accepted immediately as one of the trainers recognised her as the winner of the talent competition which was organised by the academy.

During her days in the academy, she learned many things, there were vocal trainings, dance classes, and even a course in financial management. But, a problem was coming up. The money she saved wasn't enough to cover the expenses on the course and the rent. So, she went and looked for a job as a part time cashier. It wasn't a pleasant job, standing for 6 hours with only a small pay. But she knew she had no other choice. It was enduring everything or accomplishing nothing.

Within a month, Hailey had gotten used to the hectic schedule, going for classes and working after that. By now, she was also feeling lonely too. Hailey missed her family, she had no one beside her, she was all by herself. Every night, she would hide in a corner inside her room and cry. She knew, she must not stop what she was doing, even when she was at her weakest moment. "I must not give up, never! " she repeated to herself.

"Hailey, you are ready," Elizabeth, Hailey's trainer told her. It was already 1 year and 3 months since Hailey walked into the academy. She shed into tears, after all the hardship, she is finally moving on with a big step. It was time for her to shine as a singer. A producer, a director, a composer, a choreographer, anyone you would need to make an album was called in. Hailey was to make an album of 10 songs. She was overjoyed, wanting to tell her father what she is going to do. But, she waited, "I must complete this task first, I am not done yet!"

Soon, the day came for Hailey to sing on stage, her first performance as a singer. By now, her album was selling at a very fast pace. Every person in the hall was anticipating, wanting to hear the voice that had touched their hearts. Hailey made sure the microphone was fine. Then, she went on stage. When she sang, only her voice was heard in the hall. The audience was quiet, mesmerised by the beautiful voice that echoed through their ears. Hailey looked into the audience and was surprised, but kept on singing. In the audience were the three faces that she missed for such a long time, the people that she cried for every night. It was her family. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she finished her song with "you are my only one and I love you" while looking at her family. Hailey went down the stage and ran into her father's arms. The father and daughter hugged and apologised to each other. "My daughter, please come home," said Hailey's father without letting her out of his arms. She hugged him tightly, saying "I will go home daddy." With a smile, she added, "daddy, finally, I have achieved my greatest triumph"