1 Failed expectations.

"I don't know why it is taking too much time"

"I wish I could fly high"

"And shine very bright"

Those were the melodious lyrics oozing out of Mark's mouth as he was vibing to the sound and beat being displayed by his music producer in the studio. He sang what he felt in his heart, the level and height he had always been wishing to attain as an artiste in the music industry, he poured them out melodiously. He is completely ready to drop his second debut studio album, not because he was highly motivated to do so, but because the CEO of the label he is signed to persuaded him to do so, oh! he needs some little flow of money he would earn from the little streams and sales of the album he is usually used to getting all the time.

The once determined Mark who came into the music industry with a lot of energy and enthusiasm with the hope of attaining fame and attention very quickly is now as downhearted and discouraged as ever. Most of the songs he releases nowadays are mostly based on the persuasion from his record label to drop new songs. His record label boss wasn't making matters any better for him, always telling him how his songs doesn't generate lots of streams on the music streaming platforms, how other artistes in the record label are generating much money and royalties for the label and themselves, and how his songs have never made it to the music billboard chart.

Those words from his label boss do dishearten him a lot. He wished he could quickly do something that would make him famous immediately in a twinkle of an eye. Sometimes, his minds were always filled with negative things he could do to make himself famous.

"I could slander and tell lies about a big and popular artiste that will bring people's attention to myself, and I will get famous in no time", "or I could even commit a little crime that will make people notice me and appreciate my music better". Those were some of the weird and negative thoughts that do fill Mark's mind sometimes, he was really hungry for fame and attention.

The money he earns from performing at shows and concerts wasn't even an appealing one for an artiste that has been in the music industry for 4 years and still counting. He rarely gets bookings to perform at concerts nowadays, no endorsements, no many collaborations with other artiste, just a few because he is barely known. Sometimes, Mark does think to himself,

"l am talented and I have nice vocals as an artiste, I am hardworking, I do not relent in dropping good music, why ain't my music going far and reaching out to more people"? he would ask himself such questions and get no answers to them.

Thanks to his favorite music producer who had been encouraging him from the very beginning not to give up on music, not to relent on music for he has the talent and passion for it. "Don't give up easily, don't relent, there is a time for everything, who knows, you might blow up and become famous unexpectedly with just one song you didn't expect would go far, there are also lots of talented young artiste like you that are striving to get their music known to more people and get famous, I am here with you to help and encourage you to the very end, so keep on striving bro". His music producer would always tell him.

His music producer's encouragement was the basis for his continuous striving and relentlessness in the music industry even though he was tired and fed up. Now here they were in the studio, he and his producer trying to record the last track in his recent 7tracks studio album they are about to release. He seems to be enjoying the sound and the beat his producer had created for the recording of the single titled "wishes and hopes". The recording was finally done, the song was well mixed and it was ready to be added to the album.

Mark and his producer named Ben sat down at the studio to discuss a little while listening to the newly recorded song.

"Wow, this song is a jam, I am feeling it immensely". producer Ben said.

"Yh, my songs are always jams and a cool vibe to listen to, but I don't know why....you know". Mark replied to him.

"Who knows, this particular song might make waves in the music industry and make you popular unexpectedly". producer Ben uttered.

"Yh, I have been hearing that for years now," Mark replied looking dejected.

On seeing the dejected and the unamused look on the face of Mark, Ben decided to encourage and cheer him up a little.

"Feeling dejected again? don't be like that, cheer up bro, for I well know you would surely go far and attain greatness, I promise you". Ben said trying to boost his morale.

Mark smiled and said, "you always find a way of cheering, encouraging, and boosting my morale up, kudos to you".

Ben seemed relaxed on seeing the little smile on the face of Mark. But actually, Mark smiled not because he was immensely encouraged and boosted up by the words of Ben, but because he didn't want it to seem like Ben's encouraging words weren't having any impact on him. He appreciated Ben's regular encouraging words a lot, those words were one of the main reasons why he was still holding on to his music career even though it wasn't blossoming the way he wants it to be.

But he has been hearing those encouraging words for about 3 years now, and nothing seems to be changing and improving regarding his music career. He was getting impatient, he wanted to see those encouraging words in reality display. He was getting tired of those words already, but he didn't show it in his facial expression or blurted it out.

*Ring! Ring!! Ring!!!*

Mark's phone ringed, on seeing his mother as the caller, he picked it up immediately. A conversation ensued between him and his mum for about 3minutes while Ben waited for the conversation to end. After about 5 minutes, the phone conversation ended.

"l am heading to my mum's house right now," Mark said.

"Any problem?" Ben asked surprised by the sudden change of plan.

"No, not at all, we just have some little things to discuss". Mark stated already standing up.

"Ok, but don't forget, we still have to complete and conclude the final packaging of your debut album here tomorrow". Ben uttered.

"Yh, surely, I am fully aware of that". Mark said as he walks up to the door, opened it, and stepped outside of the studio room. On getting outside and to the main road, he boarded a taxi heading straight to where his mum lives.

While inside the taxi, lots of thoughts filled his mind.

"Nobody even cheered or called my name at all on seeing me, I can even walk on the streets freely without being afraid of the excess praise and cheers of my name I would receive from people and my fans as an artiste in the music industry, am ain't even popular at all", "And what does my mum wants to discuss with me? I hope it isn't about changing my record label again, that is leaving the 'COOL BOIZ' label and signing to another record label". Those were the first two thoughts that filled his mind at that moment.

Mark's mum had always supported the choice of career her children had always wanted to do. As far as it is legal and you have the passion for it, it is ok with her. But her rule is, her children must become successful in whatever career choice they decide to do and jumps into. Mark's immediate younger sister, Rita, happens to be one of the most successful fashion designers and stylists in the city at the moment. She had the passion from a very young age as a little girl to design clothes, sew them, and also style them. Immediately after she graduated from the university, she dived into fashion designing and styling with the funds she got from her mum at the age of 21, she happens to be 25 years now but had already attained lots of success in the fashion designing world lots of fashion designers can dream of because she had the immense passion for it, and her mum is so proud of her. Mark also had a talent and a passion for music, after studying music under theatre arts in the university with his two close friends and also graduating with a degree in music. He dived into music immediately at the age of 22years with his two close friends, John and Henry. Has time passed by, different CEO of different record labels noticed the music talent and passion in the three young upcoming artiste, and they were signed to different record labels.

John and Henry wasted no time in making a name for themselves in the music industry and getting famous. But it seems it was only Mark that was left behind, he didn't attain the fame and success he expected to attain in the music industry that his two friends had already attained. For four years and still counting, things still happen to be the same way for him, no changes. This was what worried his mum so much, her rule was for her children to become successful in whatever career they choose to go into, but that was not the case for her son, Mark. She had talked to him severally about quitting his current record label and signing into another one, and he had told her severally that his record deal with 'COOL BOIZ' record wasn't over, it was a seven years record deal he signed with them, and trying to quit the label just like that might cause some problems and court cases.

Now, here he is heading over to his mum's house again. His hope and prayer is that she doesn't bring up the matter of quitting his current label and signing to another one. His mind was filled up as the taxi keeps on moving to its destination.