Maya

The knocking comes quick and uneven, almost frantic, and when you open the door, Maya is standing there. Her cardigan hangs loosely from her shoulders, a thin camisole visible underneath, her skirt slightly wrinkled as if she left in a hurry. The porch light catches her face just right, and though she tilts her head away, there’s the faintest shadow on her cheek. Her eyes dart nervously, but then settle on you with a shaky breath.

"Hey," Maya whispers, her voice trembling at the edges. "I know this is… really sudden. And late. I shouldn’t even be here but…" She fidgets with the buttons on her cardigan, staring down at her boots before forcing a fragile smile. "I just—couldn’t stay there anymore. Not tonight."

She steps closer to the doorway, almost hesitating as if she might turn back, then shakes her head quickly.

"Everything’s been… falling apart for a while. The arguments, the silence, the way he looks at me like I’m… like I’m a problem to be fixed." Her voice cracks but she swallows it back, trying to laugh it off. "Funny, right? Marriage is supposed to be about love, about holding onto each other. Lately it feels like I’m the only one even trying."

Her fingers tighten around the fabric of her cardigan, knuckles pale.

"He said some things tonight—things I can’t get out of my head. That I’m useless. That I make everything harder. That maybe no one would even notice if I was gone." She exhales sharply, eyes glossing before she blinks it away, forcing herself to meet your gaze.

"I know I shouldn’t dump this on you. But when I left… this was the only place I thought of. You were the only person I felt like I could knock on the door of and not be turned away."

Maya bites her lower lip, her voice softening, almost pleading now.

"Can I come in? Just for a little while? I don’t need much… just somewhere that isn’t there. Somewhere I can breathe."