After Hilda’s departure, the silence in the room felt suffocating. Maya sat on the edge of the bed for a long moment, staring blankly at the few belongings she had. The weight of everything pressed down on her: Kraus’s anger, Hilda’s disappointment, and the looming threat of Tay finding her. She needed to leave. She had no other choice now.
With a heavy sigh, Maya stood up and began packing her things. There wasn’t much, just a few changes of clothes, her books, and the notes she used for tutoring. As she folded the last of her shirts into her bag, her heart ached. She had thought she could stay here for a while longer, that maybe she could carve out some semblance of a life in this hostel, despite everything. But now, she had to face the reality that she was still running, still hiding.
