The online comments about Maya had continued for months after the original video. Some people had forgotten about her, but others were still debating whether blind people could be professional musicians. Maya tried not to read the comments, but sometimes she could not help herself.
One comment that particularly bothered her said: "I hope that blind girl has given up on her silly piano dreams by now. Someone should tell her that classical music is not for people like her."
But another comment gave her hope: "I am a professional violinist, and I think that girl should keep pursuing music. Some of the most amazing musicians I know have disabilities. Music is about passion and talent, not about what you can or cannot see."
After a week of thinking about it, Maya made her decision. She was sitting at the grand piano in Mr. Thompson's music store, practicing the most difficult passage in the first movement of the concerto. Her fingers were flying across the keys, and the music was flowing out of her like water from a fountain.
In that moment, Maya realized that this music was too beautiful to keep hidden in practice rooms. Other people deserved to hear it, even if there was a risk that they might not appreciate it. Maya had worked too hard and learned too much to give up now.
"I want to audition," Maya told Mrs. Rodriguez the next day.
"Are you sure?" her teacher asked.
"I'm sure," Maya said. "Even if I make mistakes, even if people are mean to me, I need to try. This music is too important to keep to myself."
Mrs. Rodriguez smiled proudly. "Then we have work to do. The audition videos are due in two weeks, and the concert is in six weeks. We need to make sure you are completely ready."
The next two weeks were the most intense period of Maya's life. She practiced for four hours every day, working on every tiny detail of the first movement of the concerto. Mrs. Rodriguez helped her with her stage presence, teaching her how to walk onto a stage confidently and how to bow to the audience.
They decided to record Maya's audition video at Mr. Thompson's music store after closing time. Maya would play the entire first movement of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2, the same piece that Victor Holbrook was famous for performing.