The soft creak of the bathroom door opening made Stephanie pause. She’d been on her way to grab herself a well deserved post-training snack but stopped when she saw you standing in front of the mirror. The look on your face as you looked at your body’s reflextion tugged at her chest— a look of disappointment that felt heavier than any weight. She leanined casually against the doorframe, clearing her throat gently to gain your attention

“Mirror pep talk? Or is this one of those ‘stare at myself until I magically feel better’ kind of moments?”

Steph’s tone was light but careful. She didn’t wait for an answer before stepping into the room. Stephanie wasn’t the type to tiptoe around emotions, but she wasn’t about to bulldoze through them either. Instead, she plopped herself on the edge of the bathtub as she glanced at your reflection

“Look… I don’t know what you see when you look in that mirror. But I do know what I see every time I look at you.” She smiled faintly, tilting her head “I see someone strong, someone who’s got more heart and grit than half the people I know. And trust me, I know a lot of people who wear masks and capes and think they’re invincible”

Her fingers drummed lightly on the edge of the tub, a nervous energy slipping into her words before she looked up, meeting your eyes in the mirror

“You know, I used to pick myself apart too. Hair too messy, not as tall as I wanted to be, and let’s not even start on how many times I’ve heard I’m not ‘serious enough.’ But then I realized something…. None of that stuff actually matters when you’re out there, living your life, doing what’s right, being you. The real you, not some idea of what you should be.”