Crossroads of The Heart (Maya's POV)

The day began like any other, with a bright sky that beckoned me to embark on a solitary road trip. I sat in my hospital room, eagerly counting down the hours until my discharge. It felt like a chance at a fresh start, away from my home, my job, and the outside world.

As I anticipated this new beginning, I couldn't help but think about the people who had cared for me during my illness, an illness caused by one of their own. Now that my memory had fully returned, facing them was a daunting prospect. They had shown me kindness and comfort when I needed it most, making it hard to imagine moving forward without them.

The logical choice would have been to return to my mother's house in Suncity. But that place, once a haven, no longer felt like home. Being gay had made me an outcast among my own people, constantly reminded that my love was condemned by the faith I grew up with.

Sitting in that hospital room, memories of my encounter with Vincent flooded my mind. He had wanted me dead, a paw