She is terrified of stairs – it is almost a phobia, or maybe more than a phobia. She imagines a game of Snakes and Ladders concealed behind the scene, and awaits a roll of dice to throw her off.
She thought she had aced the political and satirical game, and then, the unthinkable happened. A roll of political dice, and then, that falling off from the ladder in the topmost row …. She could see it happen again and again. It had happened centuries ago.
The spirits in the Palace of Illusions speak to her – “You had a saviour at that stage, Draupadi! You won’t find him today. Go back! The light you see at the other end is an illusion. You will never reach there. The stairs are controlled by powerful vested interests. They won’t allow your ascent to success.”
She is determined this time around. She will make it.
(150 words)
Creative Experiments and More 
I get the feeling that this is dancing around the idea of the glass ceiling – and it does so marvelously, since phobias and political issues are invisible things that keep people down.
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You are close to it. Thank you so much!
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The greatest success almost always requires overcoming substantial fear.
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Agree. Thanks!
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I thought it was clever that you made her terrified of stairs because she fell off a ladder to her death. I hope she is able to face her fears this time!
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She will. Thanks!
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Onwards and upwards. She’ll do it.
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Yes. Thanks!
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I hope the spirit is wrong and only trying to dissuade her from her goals. I hope she succeeds.
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Thanks 😊
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For most that is the struggle. She seems determined to make it though.
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At times, it takes a reset of goals to make it – not necessarily lowering it, just taking a different direction.
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