The Channel 7 studio felt like a battlefield under the bright lights. I sat in the makeup chair, watching the artist cover the dark circles under my eyes, the stress that had shown on my face all week.
"You're going to do great," Elena said, checking her notes one final time. "Remember, this is your chance to tell your story. Stay calm, stick to the facts, and don't let anyone rattle you."
On the studio monitor, the opening words flashed: “LIVE AT 8: MAYA COLLINS SPEAKS OUT.” My stomach twisted, but Mom’s voice rang in my head, Don’t you dare let them silence you. Don’t you dare say sorry for telling the truth.
"Thirty seconds to air," the floor manager called.
Elena took her position across from me, her professional smile masking the intensity in her eyes. She knew this interview coul
