Chapter 13 - The New Normal
Maya's life settled into a new rhythm.
She worked at the hotel—not the front desk, but the new position. She ran her nonprofit on the side. She went to therapy. She talked to her father every week.
Some things were still hard. She still flinched when people raised their voices. She still had nightmares about the lobby.
But she was okay.
Her father changed too.
He stopped offering to help unless she asked. He stopped showing up unannounced. He started asking questions instead of giving answers.
It wasn't perfect. They still argued. They still misunderstood each other.
But they were trying.
One Sunday, Maya went to her father's house for dinner.
He'd made chicken again. The good kind.
"How's the new project?" he asked.
"Hard. But good."
"The nonprofit?"
"Yeah. We're getting more calls. More people reaching out."
"That's good."
"It's a lot."
"Can you handle it?"
She looked at him.
"I can handle it."
He nodded.
"I know," he said.
"Good."
They ate.
After dinner, Maya walked through the house. She stopped in her old room. The bed was still made. The posters were still on the wall. It was a museum of who she used to be.
She sat on the bed.
She thought about the girl who'd lived here. The one who'd been so desperate to prove herself. The one who'd pushed everyone away.
May you like
She was still there. Somewhere.
But she was different now.
