Chapter 1
Maya Carter woke up before the sun.
Not because she wanted to—but because she had to.
The room was still dark, the air heavy with the quiet breathing of her younger siblings. For a moment, she just lay there, staring at the cracked ceiling, letting the silence sit on her chest.
Then reality returned.
Bills. School. Responsibilities.
Life.
She sighed softly and slipped out of bed.
The cold floor greeted her bare feet as she moved carefully, so she wouldn’t wake them. In the small kitchen, she tied her hair into a loose bun and got to work.
Water on the stove. Bread on the table.
Routine.
Always the same.
“Maya…?” a sleepy voice called from behind.
She turned slightly and smiled. “You’re awake already?”
Her little sister rubbed her eyes. “I had a bad dream.”
Maya’s expression softened immediately. She knelt down and pulled her into a hug.
“It’s okay,” she whispered. “I’m here.”
And she meant it.
She was always there.
—
By the time the sun finally rose, the house was no longer quiet.
“Eat your food before it gets cold!” Maya called, tying her shoelace quickly.
Her younger brother groaned. “I don’t want to go to school today.”
Maya gave him a look. “You said that yesterday. And the day before.”
He grinned. “Maybe I just don’t like school.”
“Too bad,” she replied, grabbing her bag. “Because school likes you.”
He laughed.
Moments like this… they made everything feel lighter.
Even if it didn’t last.
—
The walk to school was longer than usual.
Or maybe it just felt that way.
Students gathered in groups, laughing, gossiping, living freely—like the world wasn’t heavy on their shoulders.
Maya walked past them quietly.
Invisible.
Just the way she preferred it.
Or at least… that’s what she told herself.
As she stepped through the school gate, a sudden shift in atmosphere made her slow down.
Something felt… off.
Different.
Her eyes lifted—
And that’s when she saw him.
Leaning casually against a car like he owned not just it—but everything around him.
Tall. Calm. Watching.
His presence alone drew attention.
Girls whispered.
Boys stayed alert.
But he wasn’t looking at them.
He was looking at her.
Maya’s steps faltered.
For a second—just a second—the world went completely silent.
Their eyes locked.
And something about the way he looked at her…
It wasn’t normal.
It wasn’t curiosity.
It wasn’t admiration.
It was something deeper.
Something… dangerous.
Maya quickly looked away and continued walking, her heart beating faster than it should.
She didn’t know why.
She didn’t know who he was.
But one thing was certain—
That wasn’t the last time their paths would cross.
—
“Hey, Maya!”
She turned to see Ethan jogging toward her, slightly out of breath.
“You walked past me like I offended you or something,” he said.
Maya smiled faintly. “I didn’t even see you.”
Ethan raised an eyebrow. “That’s new. You always see everything.”
She hesitated.
Not everything.
“Are you okay?” he asked, studying her face.
“Yeah,” she replied quickly. “Just tired.”
Ethan didn’t look convinced, but he let it go.
“Come on,” he said. “Let’s get to class before they mark us late again.”
As they walked side by side, Maya couldn’t help herself.
She glanced back.
Just once.
And there he was.
Still standing there.
Still watching.
And this time…
He smiled.
—
