THE BOY NEXT DOOR
"I can walk you home, if that’s okay with you.”
The word "home" carried with it the weight of stark reality, pulling Maya back to the harsh truth awaiting her. While shedding tears in the desolate park provided a temporary release from her fears and pain, it couldn't erase the brutal truth. Manoj was a nightmare, an inescapable part of her terrifying reality. She felt torn. On one hand, her mother awaited her, alone and in need of her support. She couldn't abandon her. Yet, the uncertainty of what Manoj might do haunted her thoughts. What if he unleashed something horrible upon her return? On the other hand, the thought of returning to that hellish environment was unimaginable. The mere idea