23/09/2024
Wings of Hope
Episode 12
Ade stood outside the flight school, staring at the entrance. It was the same place he had walked into months ago, filled with anxiety and doubt. Back then, failure had seemed like the end of the world. But today was different. Today, he was ready to face the exam again.
The past few months had been grueling. After his first failed attempt, Ade had thrown himself into his studies with a new intensity. Mr. Okon had been there every step of the way, offering advice, encouragement, and tough love when needed. The mistakes Ade made in the first exam became lessons, each one sharpening his focus and understanding.
He exhaled, then walked through the doors of the exam hall. The room was quiet, filled with other students who, like him, were hoping to prove themselves. Ade sat at his desk, his heart pounding but his mind clear. He had prepared for this moment.
The invigilator handed out the exam papers, and Ade’s pulse quickened as the clock started. This time, the questions didn’t intimidate him. He read through each one carefully, answering them with precision and calmness. There were moments of doubt, but they were fleeting. He pushed through, relying on the countless hours of study and the advice Mr. Okon had drilled into him.
As the exam wore on, Ade found himself settling into a rhythm. The fear that had overwhelmed him the first time was absent. Instead, there was a quiet determination. He had been here before, and he wouldn’t let fear sabotage him again. The clock ticked, but Ade remained focused, completing each section methodically until the end.
When the time was called, Ade placed his pen down and leaned back in his seat. A wave of exhaustion hit him, but beneath it was a sense of relief. He had done his best, and now, all that was left was to wait.
The next week passed in a haze of anticipation. Every day felt longer than the last, but this time, Ade refused to let his nerves control him. He kept himself busy, working his usual airport job and continuing his studies. It was during one of these shifts, while mopping the floors near the ticket counters, that his phone buzzed with a message. It was from the flight school.
Ade’s hands shook as he opened the message. His eyes scanned the screen, and for a moment, he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. His name was there. He had passed.
He stood frozen, the mop slipping from his hand and clattering to the floor. The noise startled him, snapping him out of his daze. His heart raced, not with fear this time, but with joy. He had done it. After everything—his father’s sacrifice, the sleepless nights, the failure—he had finally passed.
Ade rushed to the nearest bathroom, splashing water on his face as he tried to process the news. He stared at his reflection in the mirror, a smile slowly spreading across his face. It wasn’t just relief that washed over him—it was pride. He had fought for this, and he had earned it.
That evening, Ade visited Mr. Okon’s house. The older man greeted him with a warm smile, as if he already knew the good news. Ade handed him the acceptance letter, and Mr. Okon read it over, nodding approvingly.
“You did it, Ade,” Mr. Okon said, his voice steady but full of emotion. “I knew you would.”
Ade smiled, feeling the weight of the moment. “I couldn’t have done it without you, sir.”
Mr. Okon shook his head. “I only showed you the way. You walked the path. And now, your real journey begins.”
The next few weeks flew by as Ade prepared for his first day at flight school. He had worked so hard to get here, but now that it was finally happening, he couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. The flight school was prestigious, known for its rigorous training, and Ade knew that the challenges ahead would be unlike anything he had faced before.
On the morning of his first day, Ade stood at the gates of the flight school, taking in the sight. The large building loomed ahead, surrounded by planes on the runway. For as long as he could remember, this had been his dream—to be here, to train to become a pilot. And now, he was on the cusp of making that dream a reality.
He stepped through the gates, his heart pounding with both anticipation and fear. As he made his way to the orientation room, he noticed the other students around him. Some looked just as nervous as he did, while others seemed confident, already walking with the ease of people who knew they belonged.
But Ade didn’t let that intimidate him. He had fought too hard to let doubt creep in now. He found a seat in the back of the room and waited as the instructor entered, a tall man with a stern expression.
“Welcome to flight school,” the instructor began, his voice booming through the room. “Over the next few months, you will be tested, pushed, and challenged in ways you’ve never experienced before. Some of you won’t make it. But for those who do, the sky will be yours.”
Ade’s chest tightened at the words. This was it. The real challenge had begun. But as he sat there, listening to the instructor’s speech, he couldn’t help but feel a quiet sense of resolve. He had overcome so much to get here—what was a little more struggle?
The first day was a whirlwind of introductions and schedules. Ade met his classmates, most of whom seemed friendly enough, though some eyed him with curiosity. He knew he didn’t fit the mold of the typical student. Many of them came from wealth, their families paying for their education with ease. But Ade wasn’t here to make friends or to prove himself to anyone but himself. He was here to fly.
That night, as he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling of his small dorm room, Ade thought back to the moment he had first seen a plane soaring through the sky as a boy. It had seemed so far away then, a dream that felt impossible. But now, he was closer than ever. And no matter what challenges lay ahead, he was ready to face them.
Ade’s journey had only just begun.
TBC
Failure is not the end of the road. Ade weldone ohhh... The journey has just started.
Serdrico Tales
