Watering lenses
"Just fifty likes?" I shout in surprise at my Instagram post's engagement
Six days ago, I was buzzing with enthusiasm and hope at the beauty I created.
Three days ago, I berated myself for allowing myself get optimistic.
Yesterday, upon realizing that my dreams may never come true, I heaved a sigh pregnant with frustration.
Who am I to hope?
"Amina" My mother's voice, that of a woman who has resigned to fate and sleeping on life's thorn-filled bed, snaps me out of my thoughts.
Getting to her, she tells me to deliver a message to her sister.
All that runs through my mind as I await my aunt at the gallery she works is that it will never pay to put all my eggs in one basket, especially not a basket that has numerous cuts and has failed to protect my eggs. Photography has rewarded me with nothing but doing menial jobs to survive, taking pictures with my phone for urgent 2k and using a borrowed camera to take beautiful pictures to improve this gallery's aesthetics, while getting only half of what my tightfisted aunty was given to "hire a professional photographer".
"These pictures are born out of love for beautiful things" I gasp in awe upon seeing that the most talked about artist, DeeBrown, is conversing with me.
"I took them" I said instantly.
"You took these eye catching pictures?" Saying this, she hands her complementary card to me.
"You don't even know me ma'am, the highest engagement I have had on social media is sixty likes, I am not close to being famous, nor am I thriving" I ramble on.
"I do not know you, but I know that you will be a thriving photographer. All you need to do is keep watering the grass of your art. You may have been dreaming, but the light at the end of your tunnel may be this opportunity to work with me" She says
I realize there that this is my chance to milk this opportunity for all it's worth, to portray art through dazzling pictures.
