"Did you get that?"
"Perfect."
"Post it."
Her trainer shook his head.
"Fight's in three days."
"I know."
"Your opponent isn't experienced."
"I know."
"Then don't underestimate her."
Stella laughed.
"Her?"
She removed one glove.
"Maya?"
The entire room laughed.
Stella walked toward the screen displaying Maya's photograph.
It was an old picture taken outside Mick's gym.
Maya was wearing a faded shirt.
No makeup.
No sponsorship logos.
No championship belt.
Stella stared at the photograph.
"This is who they found?"
Her trainer crossed his arms.
"Apparently."
Stella smiled.
"She looks like she came here to clean the gym."
The cameraman laughed.
Stella leaned toward the camera.
"Everyone watching this..."
She pointed at the screen.
"Remember her face."
She paused dramatically.
"Because you're going to see it for about six seconds."
The clip went online that night.
Within hours, thousands of comments appeared.
Some laughed.
Some mocked Maya.
Some demanded to know who she was.
But one comment stood out.
"What if she isn't afraid of you?"
Stella read it.
Her smile faded.
Then she laughed.
"Everyone is afraid."
But Stella didn't know something.
Maya had spent years learning how to function while afraid.
Fear had been there when Maya was twelve.
Fear had been there when her father died.
Fear had been there when her mother became sick.
Fear had been there when Maya dropped out of college because she couldn't afford tuition.
Fear had been there when she worked two jobs.
Fear had been there when she watched her younger brother struggle with addiction.
Fear had followed her everywhere.
Eventually, she stopped trying to escape it.
She learned to walk with it.
That was why Stella's insults didn't matter.
Maya wasn't trying to prove she was fearless.
She was trying to prove that fear didn't get to make her decisions anymore.
The following morning, Maya received a message.
It was from Mick.
"Don't read the comments."
Maya smiled.
She replied:
"I wasn't going to."
Then she put her phone away.
She returned to the heavy bag.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
Outside, the internet continued laughing at the quiet woman nobody knew.
Inside the gym, Maya continued preparing for the moment everyone would finally know her name.
============================================================
CHAPTER 3
The tension was palpable at the pre-fight weigh-in.
Flashbulbs popped as Stella flexed for the cameras, wearing a custom-made silk robe.
Reporters shouted questions.
"Stella!"
"How confident are you?"
"Are you expecting a knockout?"
Stella smiled.
"Absolutely."
She stepped onto the scale.
The announcer read her weight.
The crowd applauded.
Then Maya stepped forward.
No robe.
No sponsors.
No entourage.
Just plain black sweatpants and a faded T-shirt.