DONOVAN

I stood outside the bedroom door, my hand hesitating on the doorknob. I had been trying to talk to Maya for days, but she had refused to open the door, refusing to even acknowledge my presence. I was getting worried, worried that she was shutting down, shutting me out.

I took a deep breath and decided that giving her space was the best option. Maybe she just needed some time to process everything, to work through her emotions. I nodded to myself, feeling a sense of resolve. I would give her the space she needed, and hope that eventually she would come around.

I turned and walked away from...