“Absolutely not. You know, I’ve been dealing with the constant sexism and prejudice towards women and people of colour here, but it’s been going on long enough. I quit. You’re right, there’s no future for me here, but I will find someone who will respect me and my work. You’ll see, one day this book will be all over the world, all over the news and my face will be everywhere you look. You’ll regret this.”

The blue-suit spectator chuckled and walked up to us then. The one in black and white quirked an eyebrow at him and asked, “Would you like to do the honours?”

He handed him my book and I watched, helplessly, as he tore it up, page by page and threw it all on the ground like garbage. Which apparently, I was meant to feel like.

All my hard work, just like that, gone. Right before my eyes and I couldn’t do anything about it. I slowly lowered myself to the ground and attempted to pick up whatever was left.

Blue suit crouched down to look me in the eye and makes sure I hear what he said after grabbing my chin. “We regret nothing, here. If you want to leave, leave, but just know that no other publishing house will take you and your sh*tty work. So, good luck or whatever, Maya.”

And with that, they both left me there, gasping for breath as I stared at all my months of hard work
demolished and reduced to nothing,
helpless and broken.

But not for long.

I wipe my tears and stand with my back straight and chin upwards. They won’t bring me down, not today, not ever.

My name is Maya. I was not taught how to be weak. They think they can break me, but they forget, I am a woman. The strongest being on the planet. They can never weaken me. They can never weaken a woman. A woman fights back. And so will I.