I pulled away from the crowd and took a short stroll to the beach. Emotions kept rushing in as I walked along the endless beachfront adjacent to the hotel where I was staying. After a short walk, I decided to take off my shoes which had become soaking wet. The warm sand felt soothing against my bare feet. I wanted to jump into the water and take a swim but I remembered that I had to walk through the reception to get to my room and all my colleagues were gathered close by.
So, I simply stared at the water and let the waves splash against my legs. It was hard to believe that this was my life. I was living in a country – an island, specifically – that many dreamt of visiting if only for a weekend. I’d receive calls every day from people back home asking me to “organize a holiday” for them. All of these because I dared to be a dreamer. The many nights I slept without eating had finally paid off. However, I wasn’t always so sure that I would realize my dreams.
You see, I come from a rather well-off family. My parents are both surgeons and all my siblings have followed suit, receiving several accolades in their respective careers. When it was my turn to leave the nest, I took a different path. While I was in university pursuing a degree in Law, I had convinced my elder sister to pay for a short course in Photography. I had always had a passion for capturing beautiful images so I decided to follow that passion. Additionally, most of my friends had side hustles which inspired me to start one.
Photography didn’t turn out to be as lucrative as I expected. I had to fund a lot of my trips to capture the content I wanted and even then, it didn’t seem to attract as many eyes.
“So, you’re serious about this photography?” my dad asked.
“Of course I am.”
“You should be looking for an internship. You’re almost graduating.”
“I am. I promise, Dad. By the time I graduate, I’ll have a job.”
The tradition in our household was that as soon as anyone graduated, they left the nest. My parents seemed a bit lenient on me since I was the last born and they’d be all alone once I left but I could tell my father didn’t want me to break the tradition. With such mounting pressure, I was desperate to hit my big break. Working a 9 to 5 was not on my agenda, at least not in my 20s. I wanted to travel the world, nurture my talent and live my best life.
This was all on me. No one was going to sponsor my trips and I was quickly running out of money to travel since I was saving to move out. It got to a point where I had to choose whether to furnish my apartment or pay for hotel stays so I could get content to photograph. The life of a dreamer was finally catching up to me.
I moved out even before graduating as if to prove a point to my parents. However, the living conditions were wanting. I didn’t have any dishes, my mattress was on the floor and I used extra bedsheets as curtains. To me, this was all part of the adventure and a good story I’d eventually tell people when my photography career takes off. When my parents asked to come and visit me, I always had an excuse.
“I’m out of town.” I lied.
“We haven’t seen you in a month.” My mother lamented.
“I’ll come and visit you when I’m back.”
This went on for around three months. I used to live hand to mouth in the name of being a dreamer. At some point, I considered seeking employment but as I was about to give up, a few clients would come through with photography gigs that would give me enough to pay bills and have some extra coins.
Seeing my classmates move up in their careers fueled my determination to forge my own path. Most of them didn’t think I would last this long doing photography. In fact, they all waited on the edge of their seats to see me fall. They got wind that I was living in a one-room apartment with my mattress on the floor and that on some days, I couldn’t afford a meal.
Suddenly, this became the talk of the class WhatsApp group.
I didn’t take the gossip personally, though. They might have been successful but most of them didn’t have anything exciting going on for them. My best friend, Adrian, constantly ranted how his life was becoming monotonous and boring.
“Where are you?” he asked
“Aberdare,” I answered excitedly. “This place is more beautiful than I expected. I have high hopes for the photos I’m taking.”
“Good to know. I’m writing another sale agreement.” He said in a monotone.
“I’m coming back in a few days then you can tell me about all the exciting things that happen in the corridors of justice.”
“Ha-ha. You’re very funny. Anyway, have fun, my dear. I can’t wait to see your work in magazines.”
“Amen,” I replied then hung up.
The story continued spreading until it reached my parents who now made it their mission to get me an internship with one of their friends.
“Where are you? Don’t tell me some remote place because I will drive there are get you.” My dad inquired.
“I’m around.”
“Good. Meet me for lunch in an hour. I’m sending you the pin.”
As expected, the lunch was a disaster. We argued the whole time and I still stuck to my guns.
“I mean, I’m at the bottom already, Dad. The only place I can go from here is up.” I explained to him.
I could tell that he wasn’t having it but there was nothing he could do or say to change my mind.
********************************************************
As I predicted, the photos at Aberdare turned out to be some of my best work. They captured a unique side of the country that many hadn’t explored. As soon as I posted them on my social media page, I got comments from brands who wanted to work with me. It was pretty exciting. I hadn’t received such feedback before and for it to happen was extremely reassuring. Customers wanted to buy my prints from all over the world. I didn’t even consider selling my photography.
As I went through all my DMs, I stumbled upon one from an art gallery in Mykonos. I almost threw my phone across the room in shock. After double-checking that it was from a legitimate account, I opened the message.
“Hi Sandra, we’ve been seeing your posts and we’re highly impressed. You have a good eye. We wanted to display some of your work in our gallery and invite you for a two-week stay in Mykonos. If you’re interested, please get in touch with us as soon as possible.”
It all felt surreal even as I walked through the airport terminals and I was finally seated in the plane. I kept questioning whether I was in an endless dream. This was beyond my wildest dreams. I never expected to get an all-expense paid trip and still have my work in an art gallery at the same time. However, I constantly reminded myself to enjoy the moment because it was the reward of being a dreamer.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have landed at Mykonos International Airport…” The pilot announced.
The rest of the announcement sounded muffled in my head. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. People picked up their carry-on bags as I remained seated.
“Ma’am?” a flight attendant tapped me to check if I was asleep. “We’ve landed. Do you need help getting your bag?”
“No, I’m okay. Thank you.”
I was to meet Ms Thalia at the airport who would be my “guide” during my stay in Greece. She was standing conspicuously in the crowd holding a cardboard with my name on it.
“Thalia?” I asked.
“Yes, Sandra? So nice to meet you.” She replied with a warm smile then reached for a hug. “Let me help you with your bags.”
“Thank you.”
The reception was totally different from what I expected. Everyone was smiling and walking with a bounce in their step. The weather was warm just like it was back home. I truly felt at home.
It took me a minute to take it all in before Thalia guided me to our taxi that drove us straight to the hotel. It was a short drive – around 15 minutes. As we drove, I explored the island with my eyes. I was specifically looking for a place I could photograph and the island had plenty of them. The whole island looked like a dream.
“Relax. I’ll take you around tomorrow.” Thalia said after she caught me looking around.
I chuckled.
“Thanks. The place is just so beautiful. I can’t help but look around.”
“Trust me, you haven’t even seen half of it, darling.”
Thalia had a peculiar accent that I couldn’t quite identify. She didn’t sound like the hostess or even the pilot.
“If you don’t mind me asking, where’s your accent from?”
She was silent and I held my breath fearing that I had offended her.
“Oh wow, you really are keen. I was born in America to Greek parents and I’ve lived in Greece for over 15 years. So, I have a weird mix of American and Greek accents.”
“No, it’s really good. I could listen to you talk all day.”
She looked out the window and then turned to me, “We’re here.”
We alighted as the driver unloaded my suitcases. I dragged the suitcase that had my camera equipment and the rest was loaded on a trolley and then pushed by the concierge.
“Welcome to Harmony Boutique Hotel,” he said as we walked to the reception.
“Thank you.”
The receptionist handed me my hotel room card and we proceeded to the room. After unloading my suitcases, the concierge disappeared without a word.
“Here you go,” Thalia said handing me an envelope. “This contains some cash and my number. If you need anything, just give me a call. I’m 5 minutes away.”
******************************************************
Sandra decided to abandon a lucrative career as a lawyer for a rather unconventional career in photography much to her parents dismay. As expected, her parents were against the choice and repeatedly tried to convince her to stick to the law. However, Sandra was hellbent on forging her own path. She moved out with nothing but a small chunk of money in her name and ended up struggling to make ends meet. Her tenacity paid off eventually. An art gallery curator in Greece noticed her work and invited her to Mykonos for a two-week stay. This was only the beginning of her dream life.
Read the first part – The Dreamer Part 1
*************************************************************
Two weeks flew by while I was in Mykonos. The gallery exhibition was a success and my stay was even better. I sold two prints and earned a small fanbase in the art community.
Whenever I’d go out to capture some images, the locals would gather in a crowd whispering to each other about my work. I had photographed a few people in the area and the photos appeared in the local paper.
On my last days, I took a break from work to finally explore the island and capture some private shots. unlike other days, I went alone. Thalia was not by my side as she always was. It was then that I truly got to mingle with people and got to see a side of the island that I have never seen before. During my shoots for the gallery, we mainly went to tourist locations but this time, I decided to walk around the island.
I felt a bit uncomfortable since I stood out in the crowd of half-naked white tourists strolling the streets. Additionally, Thalia wasn’t there to respond when people spoke in Greek. However, I had picked up a few words and could respond or ask common questions.
After buying a few snacks, I packed my picnic basket and headed to the beach. I noticed a young boy trailing me from the marketplace. He didn’t say anything and whenever I turned back or stopped, he would hide.
Eventually, he mustered some courage and approached me. He pointed at my camera and I thought he wanted me to take a picture of him. So, I switched it on and pointed it at him. I took a picture and showed it to him. He seemed impressed. As I turned to continue my walk, he ran in front of me.
“Sandra,” he said and I immediately stopped.
“You know my name?” I asked, not sure if he would understand.
“Newspaper.” He replied then took out the newspaper he was referring to.
“Mama.” he continued pointing at a woman in the picture. “You change our lives. Many companies hire her for work. She was a club waitress, she becomes a model now.”
I smiled. The image had actually gained popularity because of her. The way she casually went about her business as I snapped pictures of the vacationers showed a different side of the exotic island that many locals seemed to enjoy.
He handed me a drawing he made of me holding a camera. It turned out he was in the club that day as he always was when his mother was at work and that was when he drew me not knowing the picture I had taken with his mother in the background would gain so much attention.
After our exchange, he returned to the shopping centre and I headed to the beach where I spent the rest of the day.
****************************************************
As a parting gift, the gallery planned to throw me a farewell party at the hotel.
The entire gallery team was in attendance and everyone was dressed to kill. I wore a sequin red dress with a thigh-high slit and red heels to match. My hair and makeup were on point thanks to the stylist who had come to my room earlier that day to doll me up.
As we mingled and exchanged pleasantries, I found myself next to Angelo who had grown fond of me.
“Sandra, I hate to see you leave”
“Me too. Your island is pure magic. I haven’t had enough.”
“Well, why don’t you stay a little longer?” he asked.
I laughed thinking it was a joke.
“I’m very serious. If you want, you can have a permanent position with us.”
“Are you serious?” I said almost choking up with emotion.
“Yes, we’ll be more than pleased to have you as part of our team. Just think about it and give me your response. For now, enjoy your party.”
As the party progressed, I slipped away from the crowd for a few minutes of alone time. Though Angelo’s proposal sounded like a dream come true, I still loved my home country and wanted to be close to my family. It wasn’t going to be an easy decision to make whether I would stay in Mykonos or return home. Nonetheless, I was more than humbled that this was happening to me. The little dreamer in me kept pushing me to accept the offer.
I made my way to the beach. Ever since I was a child, I always found the water very calming. I could think clearly when surrounded by a body of water. This is why I believe I was destined to spend my life near water and what better place to spend it than one of the most beautiful islands in the world?
“This opportunity comes once in a lifetime,” I said to myself.
“Your family will understand. You’re the dreamer after all.”
My inner thoughts wouldn’t allow me to think clearly. Besides, the beautiful view of the ocean reflecting the moonlight tempted me to stay. I decided to make the decision once I returned home. There, I could consult my family and know the best decision to make.
I returned to the party and stayed for a few hours before returning to my room leaving a few people at the venue.
“Safe trip,” Thalia said hugging me tightly. “Please come back even just to visit.”
We had become close over the course of my stay and she felt like part of my family. Similarly, the gallery had become like a second family to me. Everyone was friendly and warm.
As the plane took off, I glanced down then took out my camera and snapped a shot of the island. It was a quiet flight unlike the flight there. I could feel that everyone was preparing to return to their reality. But it didn’t have to be like that for me. Why would I want to leave an island that most people would dream of living in?
By the time I landed, I had made a decision – I was going back. This was all I had dreamt about and it was coming to reality. Why wouldn’t I chase my dreams?
I met with my family shortly after settling back. As I drove to the restaurant where we had agreed to meet, I couldn’t help but feel nervous. I knew my family, especially my parents wouldn’t be so open to me settling in another country. They weren’t as welcoming about my photography career from the beginning but somehow, I was hoping they’d be more understanding now.
“Hi, Mum. Hi Dad.” I said hugging them both then went down to the table to hug the rest of my family.
Everyone, including my nieces and nephews, was there. I looked around and felt sad that if I left I wouldn’t see them again.
“So, you know why I called you here.” I started. “I’m considering settling in Greece.”
“That’s okay. You’re a grown woman now and we trust your decisions.” My father responded.
It was easier than expected. I thought we would argue for hours and he would make me justify everything. However, he seemed happy actually. He approached me and asked me to show him my photography. We spend the whole afternoon telling stories and bonding. He gave me his blessing and promised to drive me to the airport.
After coordinating with Thalia and Angelo, I booked my flight which was leaving in a week. This was the greatest achievement that I, The Dreamer, could ever wish for. The transition was smooth and it was like Mykonos was always meant to be my forever home.
I’ve stayed here for the past year and all I have are good memories, an amazing career, and wonderful friends who have become my second family.
“Hello, my little dreamer.” My dad said as I picked up a video call from him.
“Hi Dad,” I replied lounging on a pool bed.
“Wow, look at you. You look so beautiful. What are they feeding you there?”
I laughed.
“I hope you’re enjoying yourself.”
“Of course. I couldn’t ask for anything more,” I replied
“Okay. We can’t wait to come and visit you.”
“Soon Dad.”
We hang up shortly after and I picked up my laptop to continue editing the pictures I had taken of a music festival we attended the previous weekend. When they say life is a party, I truly understand it. My life is truly a party.
Like this story? Here are more short stories you’ll enjoy
She Went Abroad For A Better Life But It Ended Being A Nightmare
He Was Tall, Light And Handsome – Perfect For The Job Of Conning Women Out Of Their Money Online
Short Story: She Found Out Her Daughter Was A Stripper Part 1
My Friend Is Getting Married But I Feel Some Type Of Way About It & My Best Friend’s Wedding Part 1
Rescue Me!! When Your Past Comes Back To Haunt You At The Workplace & Other Scary Ex Stories
My Boyfriend Discouraged Me From Pursuing My Dream Job Part 1
This story first appeared as The Dreamer Part 1 and The Dreamer Part 2
Image by nakaridore on Freepik
