the cabin porch, staring

at her skin, but s

too heavy... too tangl

air. Spac

s no clarity

e. Not

s kept echoin

is play

Maya. You're no

that Nathan was just another manipulative pla

ncy in h

, there

betrayal. Her first real f

ally walk aw

trust Na

ing in a sea of decisions, e

escape, the more the t

was the only w

ight, she co

ind r

men who represented the very t

o make a

hiding behind the excuse tha

s her l

fu

ch

ouldn't r

Maya had mad

keep running

n if that meant confronting

nt losing hersel

quickly, barely taki

he turned to Nathan, who had been qu

ixture of disappointment and something da

meeting his gaze. "I can't

loser, his hand

Maya. You don't have to face him

th caught i

lose. To

ing, overwhelming, just

deep down - thi

Nathan's arms, not w

hispered, fighting the tears. "But I can't

, but the pressure in

lf, Maya. That's

her head, p

ve to

n't try to

his eyes followed her as she left -

back to the cab

coul

ed to fi

d to conf

he deepest, darkest parts

nd silent, the tensi

ched his apartment, her b

r was park

hesi

ason to hate him

ved forward, on

door, the sound sha

ds pa

min

at passed, each one filled with the fear of f

the doo

e, his face hard

was some

almost v

said, his v

said, her voice trembl

didn't

n't de

to," he said qui

there was a whisper of the truth - th

he demanded.

lling her into the dim

ftly. "But I want to make

onging. But deep down, she knew the truth was far

asn't just

s abo

t sure if she