Chapter 2

Feeling trapped and alone, with no one to turn to for help, Maya was unsure what to do. But she knew she couldn’t stay there any longer. She had to find a way out before it was too late.

With no other options, she quickly packed a bag and left the apartment. As she walked through the empty streets, she realized she had nowhere to go. No friends or family to turn to, and no money to rent a new place.

After hours of wandering, Maya found herself exhausted and desperate. She sat down on a park bench, trying to figure out what to do next. But as the night fell and the temperature dropped, she knew she couldn’t stay there either. She had no choice but to find shelter wherever she could.

As she was packing the few belongings she had carried away from her apartment, a stranger approached her and asked, “What are you doing here?”

“I am looking for a place to sleep,” Maya replied.

The stranger looked at her and laughed loudly, revealing discolored and dirty teeth. Maya felt a shiver run down her spine, but she didn’t have the luxury of being picky. She needed a place to stay, even if it was with a stranger who made her uncomfortable.

“I know a place,” the stranger said, still chuckling to himself. “It’s not the Hilton, but it’s better than sleeping on the street.”

He led her down a few alleys and into a run-down building. The hallway was dark and smelled of urine and decay. Maya followed the stranger up a flight of stairs, trying to ignore the creeping feeling of dread building up inside her.

Finally, they reached a small room with a twin-sized bed and a filthy bathroom.

“Is this the place you are talking about?” Maya gathered the courage to ask him.

“Of course it is,” the stranger said, smiling. His expression showed he wasn’t happy with the reaction Maya was giving him.

“I am sorry,” she said to the stranger. “But, isn’t there someplace better than this?”

The stranger looked at her and laughed, the laughter taking on a wild and unsettling tone. “This is the best place I can offer you.”

Maya sighed, knowing she had no choice. She thanked the stranger and watched as he left the room, closing the door behind him. She sat down on the bed and looked around. The room was small, with peeling wallpaper and a broken window. But it was dry, warm, and the only place she had to sleep.

She lay down on the bed, trying to block out the sound of traffic and the building’s unpleasant smell. Sleep was elusive, and her mind raced with thoughts of what had happened to her.

Maya had been evicted from her apartment for helping a stranger, and now she had nowhere to go. She had lost her job and had no money. Alone in a city that had turned its back on her, with no friends or family to turn to, she felt lost and scared.

As she lay there, Maya thought of all the mistakes she had made in her life. She had dropped out of college and had drifted from one dead-end job to another. Saving money and making real friends had never been her strong suit. She had always clung to the hope that things would somehow work out, that life would get better on its own. But now, she knew she was wrong.

To make matters worse, she didn’t even have a partner who could help her in her time of need.

Maya opened her eyes and looked at the ceiling. The cracks in the plaster seemed to mock her, whispering silently, “You’re a failure. You’re a loser. You’ll never make it. You’ll never find a mate.”

But then, something strange happened. The breeze outside intensified, and the wind blew with an almost battling force. Thunder roared, and the roof above her gave way, exposing her to the full sight of the glowing full moon.

Fear gripped her, and an unfamiliar chill ran down her spine. It was a strange and new feeling.

Out of nowhere, the Moon Goddess appeared in the sky above her, gazing down with a compassionate look. She felt pity for Maya, understanding the struggles, pain, and suffering she had endured for so long. The Goddess knew Maya’s heart, desires, and dreams.

With a gentle smile, the Moon Goddess spoke to her. “Child, do not despair. Your journey has been long and hard, but your time has come. You are meant for greatness, and your mate is waiting for you. Trust in your heart, and do not be afraid to take chances.”

In awe, Maya felt her spirits lift. She had never felt so hopeful before. Looking up at the Goddess, before she could say anything, the deity vanished into the night sky, leaving Maya with a renewed sense of purpose.

The following morning, after her experience with the Moon Goddess, Maya woke up feeling extremely tired, as if she had gone to bed on the wrong side. As she prepared to leave the unpleasant apartment, she heard the sound of a phone ringing close to her. The phone that was ringing wasn’t hers.

She searched the room, looking for the source of the noise. It was coming from a drawer next to the bed. She opened it and found a phone she had never seen before. Without thinking, she answered the call.

“Hello?” she said, her voice hesitant.

“Is this Maya?” a man’s voice asked on the other end of the line.

She hesitated before answering. “Yes, this is Maya. Who is this?”

“This is Max,” he said. “I’m sorry to call you so early, but I had to make sure you were okay.”

Max? Maya didn’t know anyone named Max. “I’m sorry, I think you have the wrong number.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Max spoke again. “No, Maya. You’re the one I’m looking for. I know this may sound crazy, but I had a dream last night, and I saw you. You were in trouble, and I felt like I had to help you. I woke up with this phone next to me and your name in my head.”

Maya was shocked. How could someone dream about her and know her name? “I’m sorry, I don’t know what to say. How did you get this number?”

“I don’t know,” Max said. “It was just there when I woke up. Maya, please, I feel like we’re meant to meet. Can we talk? Maybe over coffee or something?”

She hesitated. She didn’t know this person, but something about his voice made her feel like she could trust him. “Okay,” she said finally. “Let’s meet for coffee.”

“Great,” Max said, and he gave her the address of a coffee shop not far from where she was staying. “I’ll see you there in an hour.”