5. Shifting Perspectives

Liam gazed at the curtains fluttering at Maya’s window; his thoughts consumed by what he had just witnessed. To him, she was just another neighbor, someone who happened to live in the house next door. He never really paid much attention to her before. But now, after seeing what her father had done to her, everything started to shift.

He didn't know what to do, or how to help her. But one thing was certain: he felt disgusted. Disgusted by what she had been forced to endure.

Liam's thoughts shifted to his encounter with Maya that morning. He remembered how she seemed to be running away from something or someone, and he couldn't help but wonder if it had been her father. The way she had flinched when he touched her made him uneasy. Was it fear or just her natural shyness? Now, witnessing what her father was doing to her, Liam couldn't shake off the feeling that Maya had been trying to escape from this man.

He felt a fierce protectiveness surge within him, one that he had never felt towards anyone before, and it both excited and scared him. Standing by idly and watching her suffer didn’t sit well with him, he wanted to help her, he just didn’t know how.

***

The next day, Liam set out for college. As he walked, he couldn't help but glance up at Maya's bedroom window, where he had seen the despicable acts of her father the night before. The curtains were still shut, but they fluttered in the gentle morning breeze.

Lost in thought, Liam was jolted out of his reverie by the sound of footsteps behind him. He turned to see Maya, her face pale and her eyes filled with a mix of fear and uncertainty. Her steps faltered as she caught him looking at her, and for a moment, they stood there in awkward silence.

Maya's mind raced as she tried to come up with an excuse for her presence, but all she could think about was the events of the previous night. She wondered if Liam knew what her father was capable of, and if he thought less of her now that he'd seen her at her most vulnerable.

Surprisingly, or not, Liam kept a straight face and continued walking without even acknowledging her presence. She felt a pang of disappointment and embarrassment. Had she misread his concern from the previous night? Or did he not care at all? She looked down at her feet and followed him, a few steps behind.

***

Maya had already bumped into Liam several times that day, in class, in the canteen, and now in the library. Every time, he seemed to ignore her presence, throwing occasional glances her way. As they stood in the library, searching for books on a packed shelf, Maya felt her tension rising. Liam acted as if she wasn't even there, and the crushing pain in her heart returned. She couldn't understand why his behavior affected her so much, especially after their encounter the night before. It was like he was a completely different person now.

Maya tried to focus on her task of finding the book she needed, but her mind kept wandering back to Liam. Why was he ignoring her now? Not like he paid attention to her before. But still! Was it because of what he had seen last evening?

As she reached for a book on the shelf, her hand brushed against Liam's. She quickly withdrew her hand, feeling a jolt of electricity run through her body at the contact. Liam didn't even flinch or acknowledge the accidental touch.

Maya sighed and continued her search for the book, but her eyes kept wandering back to Liam. He seemed so distant, so unreachable.

Finally, she found the book she was looking for and made her way back to her table. Liam had already left the aisle and was nowhere to be seen.

***

Maya had been feeling increasingly anxious as the day went on. Liam's behavior towards her had been cold and distant, and it was affecting her more than she cared to admit. As she made her way to the girls' bathroom, she felt her eyes start to water.

She locked herself in an empty cubicle and leaned her head against the cool metal door. Tears streamed down her face as she let out a sob. Maya had never felt so alone and isolated before.

Maya couldn't hold back the tears any longer. It wasn't just Liam's behavior that was affecting her. She was worried about a lot of things, her father's abusive behavior towards her being one of them. She felt trapped and helpless, like she didn't have any control over her life. What was in store for her? What was her fate? The uncertainty of it all made her feel like giving up. Maya buried her face in her hands and sobbed. She wished she could just disappear, escape from it all. The sound of her crying echoed in the empty cubicle of the girl's toilet.

Maya cried for what felt like hours until she finally regained some composure. She splashed cold water on her face and looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were red and puffy, her mascara smudged from the tears. She took a deep breath and made her way out of the bathroom.

***

Maya stumbled out of the bathroom, still wiping the tears from her eyes. As she turned the corner, she collided with Liam, who was passing by. Their eyes met, and Liam's stony face seemed to soften as he saw the redness and puffiness around her eyes. He wondered what could have made her cry, but he couldn't find the words to ask her. It wasn't that he didn't care, but being soft and considerate was something he had never been good at, no matter how hard he tried.

Maya felt a mix of emotions as she looked at him. She felt embarrassed and vulnerable, but also a strange sense of comfort. She looked down at her feet, willing the tears to stop falling. Liam cleared his throat awkwardly and stepped to the side, letting her pass. Maya walked away, wanting to hide from the world.

***