Shattered dream

On the 3rd of October this year, I eagerly embarked on a journey with the zealy campaign, sponsored by the Leofinance group(now Inleo) and my primary goal was to change my phone, to be freed from its low storage problems. The amount to be won in the campaign was huge which was what motivated my confidence that this endeavor could finally grant me a brand new phone. I was fully committed and determined not to falter in any task that could potentially hinder my ascent on the leaderboard, despite my busy schedule. In fact, I boldly declared in my first task article that I aspired to use my winnings to purchase a new phone, which led to some playful ribbing from friends who jokingly referred to me as "long throat."

The campaign was not for the faint of heart. The tasks seemed never-ending, and I refused to yield to exhaustion. Throughout the entire month of October, my sleep hours dwindled to a mere three hours per night as I diligently completed tasks. I would sacrifice precious sleep to ensure I remained at the top 10 of the leaderboard, aiming for a larger share of the prize money.

Staying away from my phone was unnerving, as I never knew when new tasks would surface. Calls from friends, who were also participating in this ambitious quest, brought a mix of excitement and anxiety because their calls signaled fresh tasks demanding my immediate attention.

My enthusiasm was unwavering. I channeled all my energy and focus into the campaign, all the while nurturing the dream of obtaining a new phone. At times, I became so absorbed in my pursuit that I lost touch with friends, solely to secure my position among the top 10 participants. There were nights when I resorted to quick, unhealthy meals due to the relentless task schedule, often neglecting proper dinners.

The final day of the campaign arrived, and in the midnight hours, we feverishly completed the last task. To my astonishment, I found myself ranked at number 2 on the leaderboard. I couldn't contain my joy and exclaimed, "Jesus!" My dream was fulfilled – I had won a whopping $250, surpassing my wildest expectations.

The dawn of the following day brought an influx of congratulatory messages from friends who had journeyed alongside me in the campaign. I promised some of them a portion of the winnings as a token of gratitude for their unwavering support.

As we eagerly awaited the release of funds by the campaign organizers, I intensified my online window shopping for the perfect phone, as the money was on its way. I reached out to some friends on the blockchain for recommendations on a quality phone.

However, the greatest heartbreak I could have imagined struck on a fateful Saturday. I had just returned from the barbershop, having groomed myself for church the following day, when I received a call from a friend. I was about to answer call when it ended. I quickly login to WhatsApp to check because she normally drop messages before she calls on phone. Her message, devoid of details, left me in a state of unease as it simply read, "Kingsley, go and check the leaderboard."

I rushed to the campaign's website, fearing the worst. To my dismay, I had been pushed down to number 22, with a reduced earning of $50. It was a devastating turn of events, and I struggled to comprehend the sudden drop from $250 to $50. "What happened?" I questioned my friends, my room and myself but there was no reasonable explanation.

My heart sank, goosebumps took over my skin, and my hope and dream just shattered.

That moment while I was still trying to believe what had just happened, concerned messages and calls from friends poured in. I was emotionally drained and found it impossible to respond or engage in conversation. In a desperate attempt to clear my mind, I turned off my phone and headed to the bathroom to take a refreshing shower, only to discover that the water tank was empty.
"Ohhh!" I angrily kicked the bucket in the bathroom with my leg and out of anger I refused to pump water with my generator in order not to satisfy anyone in the compound because they were all waiting for me. I threw myself onto my bed, seeking solace in sleep to escape the pain.

I surrendered to the embrace of sleep, but it was short-lived. A knock on my door jolted me awake, and I groggily inquired, "Who's there?" To my surprise, it was a customer who had come to retrieve her clothing. Glancing at the clock, I saw that it was already 11:00 PM. I let out an exasperated sigh and reluctantly rose to attend to the customer. That unexpected interruption left me restless, and despite my exhaustion, sleep continued to evade me until 3:00am.

Thanks for reading 🙌

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