Stella extended her glove.
Maya hesitated.
Then touched it.
The bell rang.
They fought.
Not with hatred.
Not with humiliation.
With everything they had.
Stella landed.
Maya answered.
Maya moved.
Stella adapted.
Seconds disappeared.
The final ten seconds arrived.
The crowd counted.
"Ten!"
"NINE!"
"EIGHT!"
Both women were exhausted.
"SEVEN!"
Stella stepped forward.
"SIX!"
Maya raised her guard.
"FIVE!"
Stella threw one final combination.
"FOUR!"
Maya slipped.
"THREE!"
She countered.
"TWO!"
Stella stumbled.
"ONE!"
The bell rang.
Silence.
Then the entire arena exploded.
Not with insults.
With applause.
Maya lowered her gloves.
Stella leaned against the ropes.
Both women were breathing heavily.
The judges gathered their cards.
Everyone waited.
The announcer stepped forward.
"And the winner..."
The crowd went silent.
Maya closed her eyes.
She wasn't thinking about victory.
She was thinking about her brother.
The announcer continued.
"By unanimous decision..."
A pause.
"...Maya."
The arena erupted.
Sophie screamed.
Mick covered his face with both hands.
Maya stood motionless.
She looked almost confused.
Stella walked toward her.
For several seconds, nobody knew what would happen.
Then Stella extended her hand.
Maya accepted it.
Stella leaned close.
"You were supposed to last six seconds."
Maya smiled.
"I know."
Stella laughed.
"I hate that."
Maya finally laughed too.
The crowd applauded louder.
But then Stella whispered something only Maya could hear.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Why did you really take this fight?"
Maya looked toward the crowd.
Toward Sophie.
Toward Mick.
Then toward the ceiling.
"Because someone I loved never got to see me become who I wanted to be."
Stella's smile faded.
"Your brother?"
Maya nodded.
"He died two years ago."
Stella lowered her eyes.
"I'm sorry."
Maya smiled gently.
"Thank you."
Then the cameras flashed.