Abby

The stage lights feel even more blinding now from the tears in my eyes. A

makeup artist darts around, dabbing my face with powder to cover the streaks

from crying. In more ways than one, I’m glad this hell is almost over; right now,

I’m just looking forward to getting this damn makeup off.

Finally, the director counts down from three, and it feels as though we’ve done

this a million times before. The crowd cheers, the music plays, the announcer

struts across the stage. And me? I’m standing here like a statue, my smile just

as fake as my manicured eyelashes.

Enter title…

Daniel stands next to me, shoulder to shoulder, and I can feel the hatred

emanating off of him. He stands tall and proud, the perfect picture of arrogance.

He doesn’t say a word to me, because he doesn’t need to. He already said

everything he needed to say earlier. He got his digs in, made his sharp words

stab me to my core. There’s no point now.

I can sense the satisfaction coursing through his veins as he stands beside me,

the realization that he won—not just in the competition, but in life—washing over

both of us. In just a few minutes, he’ll get exactly what he wants. Not only a

trophy, but to beat a woman down to nothing.

The announcer turns to Daniel first, his voice echoing across the studio. “Daniel,

you’ve shown immense skill throughout this competition. As we come to a close,

how are you feeling about your performance?”

Daniel’s lips twist into a smile that doesn’t even come close to reaching his

eyes.

without skipping a beat. “The true winner today

than just a lovable personality…” he sneers

“He will be a

clear, and the gleam in

cheeks as

his eyes meeting mine. “Abby, you’ve become a favorite

this competition. Tell us, what has this experience meant

sea of

are fewer signs with my name now

a hole

the

eyes. Her eyes are just as wide and

in her tiny hand, a grin spread across her

in my throat, but I push through…

even if

I’m here for her.

voice

chef in this

here. To show that we—”

stand toe to

thick. “And maybe, just

That future female

skills—and our

also respected.”

crowd,

Or maybe it’s just the sound

results.

announcer’s voice then cuts through

to the judges

of

lock onto

blink. Instead, his head

and my world seems to tilt

champion, now looks on with

the briefest of

inclining toward me in

trick of

can’t look at Daniel, can’t afford to see the smirk

there. Instead, I find the little girl in the crowd, her

from her

for what feels like

speaks, as though drawing it out for dramatic effect. And then,

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255