Abby

The air in the studio feels dense with anticipation as Karl and I walk back to our

station together. The crowd murmurs as they become aware of the implications:

that only Daniel and I are returning, and Bryan, the third contestant, is nowhere

to be found despite the fact that the winners of the second round were never

officially announced.

“You okay?” Karl murmurs as we take our spots, standing next to each other

with our shoulders touching.

I nod and shrug at the same time, a sense of guilt and trepidation washing over

me. “Yes. Sort of. Maybe. I don’t know,” I murmur, clearing my throat subtly.

Enter title…

Karl shoots me a confused look from beneath his blue surgical mask. “What

does that mean?” he asks, worry lacing his voice.

I can’t contain my sigh. “It means that, if it weren’t for Bryan’s mother dying, I

wouldn’t be standing here right now,” I say quietly. “And I’m not sure how to feel

about it, if I’m being honest.”

Karl is silent for a moment before he speaks. “Listen, Abby, I know it’s a shock.

But—”

Suddenly, before he can finish, the director holds up his fingers and begins

counting down from three. The stage falls silent, and the cameras begin rolling.

his way across the stage, his face more

gentlemen,” he starts, “before

have an announcement to

the edge of

and unyielding, even as we face

at him only serves to prove me right; his eyes are

sort of glee.

not be joining us for the

audience. “Due to a

chosen to withdraw.”

murmur turns into a low hum, the

“Bryan’s mother has passed away. Let us

moment of silence.”

the silence stretches over the crowd, I feel my

only due to a death. A wave

that I don’t belong here after my performance in the

clears his throat and continues. “Now… the

biggest test of skill,” he announces. The

tension and excitement winding

preparing a dish that

black truffle butter

My heart lurches.

That dish. My dish.

practiced until my hands moved with the

down those elusive truffles as if

like fate. It feels like a

my

closer. “I thought they

gripping the edge of the counter even harder

I thought

the announcer’s voice booming over

the moment

exceptional skill to get this far,” he

the noise of the crowd. “And now,

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