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.

a beat. “The true winner

lovable personality…” he sneers subtly, casting a

will be a skilled

message is clear, and the gleam in

cheeks as the crowd

to me, his eyes meeting mine. “Abby,

Tell us, what has

sea of

are fewer signs with my name now thanks to my

a hole in my

girl in the third row with her

eyes. Her eyes are just as wide and

in her tiny hand, a

the lump in my throat, but I push through…

here, even if I

I’m here for her.

my voice

a female chef in

have been here. To show that we—”

I can stand toe to toe with the

a breath, the air tasting thick. “And maybe, just maybe,”

will inspire others. That future female chefs will

our skills—and our

also respected.”

through the crowd, a murmur of

it’s just the sound of anticipation

results.

voice then cuts

is…” His eyes flick to the judges as

out of his

lock onto mine, his

smile, doesn’t even blink. Instead, his head gives

to tilt for what feels like the millionth time

champion, now looks

of

inclining toward me in a

a trick

I can’t look at

Instead, I find the little girl in the crowd, her eyes

her

winner is…” The pause hangs for

it out for

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