Chapter 5
The judges’ critique is vicious.
The audience murmurs. When the camera cuts to my face too long.
Enrique stands two feet away and can’t help me.
Later backstage he hands me water. Quiet. Steady.
“They’re trying to break you,” he says.
I realize he’s right.
Because the head judge—Lena—smiles at me like she already owns my downfall.
She’s powerful. Beloved. Untouchable.
And she hates me.
Social media flips overnight.
The noise floods my feed. Half the internet wants me gone. Half wants me exposed.
I see edits of me crying set to pop songs. Me on the Titanic.
A fan DM’s me:
You remind me of home.
I almost cry.
Janet screenshots the DM and says,
“Lean into that. America likes you small.”
