Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
~•~
"Second place, Maya Woodhill."
Second place. It was always second place. From the moment she first put on her dance shoes, this had been her fate—second place. Over the years, she'd stopped keeping track, as if she hoped that would ease the sting of those defeats. But each new competition only confirmed what she already knew: she still wasn't good enough. She longed for victory, dreamed of one day standing at the top of the podium and feeling the sweet taste of triumph. But no matter how hard she tried, it never happened.
She began dancing at six years old. Even as a little girl, she dreamed of fame and recognition, of a day when everyone in the dance world would know her name and face. She had only stood in first place once—and that was only because she was the only one in her category. She never displayed the medal from that competition. In fact, she didn't even know where it ended up; maybe she'd hidden it or even thrown it away in a fit of frustration. Wherever it was, it held no meaning for Maya. It was a false trophy.
"First place, Agnes Martin."
Maya turned her head and stared intently at the brunette who had been consistently winning first place for years, one victory after another. Agnes Martin—the star of every dance floor, practically a celebrity. Her victories opened doors for her into the world of professional dance and the fashion industry. Offers flooded in, not only because Agnes had undeniable talent. She came from a wealthy family who could afford the best training and the most beautiful costumes. She was beautiful, talented, and admired by all. When she danced, she became the center of the universe, a magnet that attracted everyone's attention. With each performance, she gained more and more fans, while others, including Maya, could only watch sadly as her fame grew.
Anyone who saw Agnes at a competition left with a new idol. And Maya? She stayed in the shadows, second, invisible, without celebration or recognition.
Agnes had it all: popularity, friends, money, and talent. The four key ingredients for success. For Maya, it was a nearly unattainable combination—she was missing three out of those four things, and she had no idea if she'd ever get them. She had just enough money for daily life. She could occasionally go out for lunch or afford new dance shoes, but that was it. She certainly couldn't compete with Agnes, who lived in luxury. Every day, Agnes could choose which car to drive around the city, with the assurance that at the end of the day, she'd return to a home where no expense was spared.
Maya didn't have many friends either—only one true friend, someone she could always count on. She was there through the good times and the bad, joining Maya in all sorts of crazy ideas, from innocent ones to those that sometimes got them into trouble. Unlike Agnes, who was surrounded by a crowd of people, Maya's friend was always by her side, not as a fan, but as someone who truly knew her.
