Stanley grew up in a quiet home where silence carried memories.
On the living room shelf is a framed photograph of his late father, it's a photograph of him standing tall in a white doctor's coat, with stethoscope proudly hung around his neck . Everyone who comes to visit would see it, and every morning Stanley walked past it. And every time his mother looks at the pictures with a mixture of pride and loss.
She always says to Stanley, "You're your father's son, He dreamed of you following after him, and it's your responsibility to do so"
Those words weren't harsh though. They came from a place of love and longing, even from grief. But those same words wrapped around Stanley like a jacket that didn't fit no matter how he tries to adjust it.
His younger ones were quite too small to understand the weight of the expectations. To them their brother was just Stanley, their big brother who is their heroes, helps them with their home and makes them laugh.
But to their mom, Stanley was the hope of the family.
One calm evening, when activities at home and at work were wrapping up, his mother called him.
"Sit here", she said, patting a chair beside her.
"We need to talk about your University. Medicine is serious course, and you have to start preparing yourself."
But Stanley finally decided to speak. "Mom," he said softly, "im not sure I want to be a medical doctor, I don't think Medicine is for me"
His mom froze, as if someone had stopped time.
"Heat do you mean by that?" She asked.
"I....have something else I'm passionate about and it's not about medicine "
"I'm confused, what passion?" She asked, sounding worries, "I thought we already agreed that you'll become a doctor, just like your father. I've already told the relatives and neighbors my son is becoming a Doctor, what do you want me to say to them now?"
Stanley swallowed. Then continued, " I'm sorry ma, Im more passionate about Fashion design. Streetwear. I want to create things. I already sew a little, fashion makes me feel alive.”
His mother all the while was shaking her head and pressing her lips tightly.
"Your father spent many years studying, He wanted you to become someone with a stable life, and someone very respected, is this how you're going to destroy his legacy and expectations for you?
"I know mom," Stanley replied. "But I want to be someone I recognize, I don't want to be trapped in dad's shadow"
His mom gave him no reply, just a really thick silence.
Later that night, when everyone had gone to bed, Stanley sat with his sketchbook open.
Joggers. Hoodies. Logos. Red gradients. Sharp lines. Bold energy. His hands was moving freely, but with a heavy heart
Could a dream be wrong if it doesn't match the expectation of other people?
Weeks passed.
Then one day, Mark , Stanley's friend stopped by with a plain hoodie and a grin.
"Hey bro, customize this for me. The way you always draw."
After a little hesitation and self doubt, he decided to try and design his first hoodie. He resolved to do it well and nice so that hopefully he could get more clients from there.
That weekend he worked quietly, sewing, stitching, redoing lines when they were not perfect. And when he finally finished it, his chest was filled with something fierce, Pride. The hoodie was unique and beautiful.
His friend wore it to school the next day and everything changed.
People stared, and most people asked where he got the hoodie from and he was kind to tell them it was Stanley.
Suddenly Stanley became Visible, his work spoke for him.
Orders came slowly but steadily , One goodie, two, some clients even paid extra to appreciate his good skills.
Stanley already set up his business logo, fliers, business cards etc.
Each praise he got felt like a small flame inside him, warm, steady and truly undeniable.
But all these while keeping it secret from his mom. But secrets never stay forever hidden.
One morning, while cleaning , his mom opened a drawer and found receipt from fabric shops, the sketches he made and a Notebook titled:
STANLEY STREETWEARZ (SS) - Business Ideas
She waited till evening.
*Stanley." She called out.
Her voice wasn't angry, just tried.
"Why didn't you tell me about all this? I didn't think you were actually serious when you said it the other day"
Stanley took a deep breath.
"I just didn't want to disappoint you mom"
His mom looked at him for a long while.
"You think your father wanted you to become a doctor because he was a doctor himself?"
Stanley stared in confusion.
She continued with a soft and shaking voice:
"He wanted you to have your own choices, to have dreams bigger than fear."
Tears filled her eyes.
"When he died, I held onto his dream because it felt like I'm holding onto a part of him. I guess I was selfish, you do need room to become your own person".
Stanley stepped closer.
"I still want to honor my father " He whispered . "But I want to build something new, and mine. "
His mom finally gave a smile, a small trembling one
"Then do it well," she said. "Not as a hobby, not in secret, if you think this is the path you really want to take them walk in it with discipline and dignity."
Stanley nodded, and he felt a weight lifted from him.
"Thank you mom"
Then his mom made him promise to make them proud, not by being his father but by being the best version of himself.
Then Stanley could proudly say he isn't replacing his father but continuing his dream of courage.
And for the first time, Stanley's future felt free and meaningful. A load of expectation was lifted from him and he earned the freedom to be the best version of himself.
Image generated using my prompt on Chatgpt
