The night was dark. There were street lamps, but it was still dark. Not literally dark, but it just felt it. I felt darkness crawling through my skin. I heard it in pounding footsteps. I felt it being fought off by the weak hand of a friend, but flickering back. I swore my life that she was still out there. I knew I had to find her. Maya had left exactly a week ago. Maybe she was huddled outside a subway station. Maybe she was resting inside a lobby.
But maybe she was in the presence of a stranger. Maybe she was being hurt, tortured, battered, bruised. I had to get to her before it was too late. I don't want to see her hurt again. I've seen it before. Often I found her with bumps and bruises, scrapes and scratches, blood and tears. She told me it was her boyfriend. She told me it was Lucas. I don't speak to him anymore. I tried to get him in legal trouble, but I had no evidence and Maya refused to speak to it. She's still with him. She's still with that good for nothing abusive bastard.

That's actually a thought.
Is she with him right now?

I turned onto his street, a vile feeling in the pits of my stomach.

//-\\AUTHOR'S|NOTE//-\\
♦️ This is short, sorry. I'm
♦️ just getting into the story,
♦️ and once I do, the chapters
♦️ will be longer, I promise.