Recently, I had one of my dreams come true. A dream that I carried and nurtured for a long time: premiering an animation borne from my stories.
The hours leading up to the event felt electric; thrill so powerful that it buzzed beneath my skin. Excitement, joy, and anticipation warred and whirled inside of me. Along with those swirling emotions was a vulnerable hope that my guests would love the Hollow Healer animated short film as much as I do.
Somehow the time both dragged and flew, leading up to it. Until it was showtime.
When I arrived at the reception, the room vibed with dozens of guests smiling and waiting.
That’s when it hit me: this wasn’t just a dream anymore. It was truly happening.
Containing my happiness became impossible. Grinning, I greeted my guests. We hugged. Laughed. Took countless photos in front of the Hollow Healer banner. I did my best to stay present and to capture this moment in my heart.
The energy and the enthusiasm grew and built with every second, until it became contagious. You could feel it move around the room and touch everyone’s soul.
Then, the lights dimmed.
Watching the animated short film—a creative endeavor that took seven months of love, effort, and persistence to complete—on a full screen… in a full house… it overwhelmed me. I found myself blinking back tears, exchanging emotional glances with the voice over actors beside me, who were seeing it for the first time.
Magic filled the air. There is no better word for me to describe it.
The room went still as the opening images and sound rolled in. As the story of the humble healer unfolded, you could feel the audience leaning in, holding onto every moment. Captivated.
And then, applause and cheers filled the theater. Loud and genuine.
I soaked it in as I joined our incredible cast—Kahinde, Chris Jr., and Chris—and our amazing producers, Lesley and Quaid, on the stage for a short Q&A. We looked at each other, whispering, “We did it!”
What struck me the most wasn’t just what we created, but how much each person loved being part of it. Their passion and their stories of us collaborating together was enchanting. We could have stayed there talking for hours.
Then something unexpected happened.
Chris turned to the audience and asked, “Should we watch it again?”
For a split second, I thought I misheard him. But the audience didn’t hesitate to agree. They cheered even louder than before.
So we watched it. Again.
Afterward, the energy in the room didn’t just return; it multiplied. Conversations buzzed. Ideas sparked. And one question kept coming up again and again, “When can we see more of this story?”
Now, sitting here the next day, still exhilarated, I am searching for the right words… and coming up short. All I know is this: how deeply grateful I am. For the people. For the experience. For the reception.
It was unforgettable.
Something tells me this is only the beginning.