“Why?” Maya asked evenly—neither tender nor harsh, just steady.
“Because of the way I spoke. Because of what I said. It was cruel. It was wrong.”
“Lily knows truth,” she replied.
“She doesn’t care about status or money. She only needs warmth.”
“I know. She… she won’t rest unless she feels safe.”
“I know,” she repeated. “And she’s not the only one.”
“I’m sorry, Maya.”
A beat of quiet:
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