The alarm rang at 5:00 a.m.
I slowly opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling for a few seconds. Another day had begun. Another day of the same routine, the same worries, and the same silent promise I made to myself every morning.
"Just a little more… I will change our life."
I got up quietly so I wouldn't wake my mother. Our small one-room house was still dark. The walls were old, the paint was peeling, and the roof leaked during the rainy season. But for me, this place was everything. It was the only home we had.
I went to the kitchen corner and started boiling water for tea.
Just then, I heard a soft cough.
"Kalpana… you woke up already?" my mother's weak voice came from behind.
I turned quickly. "Yes, Maa. You should rest more. I'll handle everything."
She smiled, but her face looked tired. She worked all day at a nearby house, cleaning and washing dishes. Her hands had become rough, and the pain in her back had increased over the past few months.
Sometimes, at night, I heard her crying quietly.
And that sound… broke my heart every time.
I handed her the tea. "Maa, one day you won't have to work anymore. I promise."
She looked at me with soft eyes. "You just focus on your studies. That's enough for me."
But I knew… studies alone were not enough.
We needed money.
After finishing the morning work, I got ready for school. My uniform was old but clean. I tied my hair into a simple ponytail and picked up my worn-out school bag.
On my way to school, I saw students talking about new phones, new clothes, and weekend plans.
I stayed quiet.
Because my weekends were different.
After school, I helped my mother. At night, when she slept, I searched on my old phone.
"Ways to earn money online."
That night, as I was scrolling, one thing caught my eye.
"Earn money by writing stories."
Writing?
I loved writing. It was the only place where I could forget our problems and create a better world.
My heart started beating faster.
Could this really work?
Could my words… change our life?
I opened the app and stared at the empty page.
My fingers were shaking.
Then I remembered my mother's tired face.
I took a deep breath and typed my first line.
"This story is about a girl who had nothing… but a dream big enough to change everything."
That night, I didn't just start a story.
I started my journey.
And this time, I wasn't going to give up.