Reward for the brave

Winnie 李昱婷 210111201

In a remote town, there lived a young man named Lin. He used to have a burning passion for painting, with those vibrant colors and fluid lines being the brightest stars in his eyes. However, the life’s cold water splashed on him time and time again.

He took his carefully crafted paintings to various competitions and exhibitions, but was repeatedly turned down. The criticisms from the judges were like sharp needles, piercing his confidence. "Unoriginal" and "crude technique" echoed in his ears, and the once passionate love for painting was gradually shrouded in gloom. He threw his paintbrushes in the corner, feeling sad and self-doubting. The past failures seemed like heavy shackles, binding his steps and preventing him from daring to try again.

By chance, the town decided to hold a mural creation competition, hoping to add new vitality to the town. The winner will not only receive a generous prize, but their work will also be permanently displayed in the town's central square. When Lin saw the news, the desire rose in his heart, but the shadow of failure made him retreat.

At night, as Lin lay in bed and looked up at the dark ceiling, images of the past flashed. Those days of painting without sleep under the dim yellow light, those lost looks when they were returned to the painting, interwoven. But in the depths of his memory, he saw the light in his eyes when he first picked up a paintbrush, a love of painting pure, unsullied by failure. That light flickered in the darkness, gradually dispelling some of the haze, and a voice echoed in his heart, never say never.

As the deadline of the competition drew nearer day by day, Lin paced back and forth in his room, struggling inwardly. Finally, he walked towards the long-dust-covered painting kit. When his fingers touched the paintbrush, a familiar feeling welled up in his heart, and he decided to be brave once more.

He began to look for inspiration in every corner of the small town, observing people's lives, the old buildings, and the peaceful natural landscapes. The idea gradually took shape in his mind. The painting process was not smooth sailing. Sometimes the color combinations didn't achieve the expected effects, and sometimes the lines he drew seemed clumsy and stiff. But whenever he wanted to give up, Lin would think of his persistent love for painting in his heart. He kept modifying and trying, and the patterns on the canvas gradually became vivid.

On the day of the competition, when his mural was presented in front of everyone, exclamations came from the crowd. The delicate brushstrokes, harmonious colors, and the picture full of deep emotions seemed to show the soul of the town. The judges were also deeply touched by this work, and Lin's name appeared at the top of the winning list without a doubt. Lin looked at his work, his eyes blurred with tears. This time, he broke through the gloom of past failures with his bravery.

What he gained was not only the bonus and honor but also the regained self-confidence and the firm love for painting. Since then, there was an extra ray of tenacity and hope in Lin's paintings. He knew that as long as he moved forward bravely, more gorgeous colors would surely bloom on the canvas of life.