"Maya, listen to me," Mrs. Rodriguez said firmly. "You know this music better than you know your own name. You have practiced it thousands of times. Your fingers could play it even if your brain stopped working. The only thing you need to do tonight is trust yourself and let the music flow through you."
Maya nodded, but she was still feeling overwhelmed by anxiety.
That evening, Maya arrived at the concert hall two hours before the performance. She wore a simple but elegant black dress that her mother had bought specially for this occasion. Maya's family had seats in the front row, and Mrs. Rodriguez was sitting with them.
Backstage, Maya could hear the audience arriving. The concert hall was completely sold out, with over 1,200 people in attendance. Many of them had come specifically to see Maya perform after following her story online.
Maya listened as the other young musicians performed their pieces. They all played beautifully, and the audience responded with enthusiastic applause. Maya was scheduled to perform 10th out of 12, which meant she had to wait backstage for almost two hours.
During this waiting time, Maya's nervousness grew worse and worse. Her hands started sweating, and her heart was beating so fast that she thought other people might be able to hear it. She tried the breathing exercises that Mrs. Rodriguez had taught her, but they did not seem to help.
Then, about 30 minutes before Maya's performance, she heard a familiar voice near the backstage area. Victor Holbrook had arrived and was talking to some of the concert organizers.
"I'm looking forward to hearing all these young musicians," Victor was saying in his smooth, professional voice. "It's wonderful to give opportunities to the next generation of talent."
Maya moved closer to where the voices were coming from, even though she knew she probably should not eavesdrop.
"What about the blind girl?" someone asked. "I heard she's playing your signature piece."
Victor's voice changed slightly. "Oh yes, I remember her from a few months ago. She seemed very enthusiastic about music. I suppose we'll see how much she has improved since then."