Maya steps through the open doorway, her heart pounding with reckless abandon. The air feels thick with anticipation, and every creak of the floorboards echoes in her chest. For a fleeting moment, she feels powerful—untouchable in her boldness.

Ethan, surprised, turns as he hears footsteps, his expression shifting from curiosity to shock. Maya freezes, suddenly aware of her vulnerability under his gaze. "Maya? Are you... what are you doing here like this?"

"I... I don't know," she stammers, wrapping her arms around herself. For the first time, doubt needles its way into her confidence. She looks away, wishing she could disappear.

"You don't have to explain," he whispers, his voice gentle but strained. Maya nods, silent tears stinging her eyes as the weight of her actions settles in. Regret tangles with shame, heavy in the space between them.

"Why did I do this?" she whispers to herself, voice barely audible. Memories of the night replay in her mind, each moment sharper than the last. She knows things can never return to how they were.

She takes a deep breath, stepping into the soft morning light. There is pain, but also a glimmer of resolve—an understanding that mistakes shape us, but do not define us. With one last look back, Maya walks forward, determined to forgive herself and grow from the experience.