This is my post on #freewriters2816 #dailyprompt expectation hosted by @marinnewest's.
The pride of his little village was Emeka. People said he was wise beyond his years from the first words he spoke. His parents wanted him to become a doctor, his teachers hailed his genius, and the community as a whole thought he would one day "make them proud.""
"Remember where you came from" was a phrase Emeka carried with him wherever he went. These were not merely words of wisdom; they were obligations. He put in a lot of study time, excelled academically, and was awarded a scholarship to one of the city's best universities. As though their own fates depended on his success, everyone applauded when he departed.
But the city was too much. He was burdened by the pace, the pressure, and the loneliness. Emeka felt bound by expectations that weren't really his, while other students pursued their own goals. He had no desire to become a doctor. He was an avid writer. He would write poems and short stories in his spare time, dreaming of books with his name on the cover instead of hospitals.
He still couldn't stand the idea of disappointing his village or his parents. He once sobbed while sitting by himself beneath a tree after failing a significant test. It wasn't because of the outcome, but rather because he felt torn between his true self and his ideal self.
Then he was discovered by an elderly professor. "Expectations can be heavy," she said quietly after reading one of his poems. However, it's acceptable to follow your own path. You were created to pursue your own dreams, not those of others.”
Emeka made a choice that night. He would study literature. His family eventually realised his passion, but it wasn't easy—there were questions, tears, and anger. Emeka returned to the village years later, this time as an author rather than a doctor.
He hadn't lived up to their expectations. He had gone above and beyond—by becoming himself..