Maya Meets World

Maya Meets Conversation

Riley opened the door to her apartment revealing her Uncle on the other side. "Hey Uncle Josh," She smiled standing on her tip toes giving him a hug.

Josh hugged his niece tightly, "Hey Riley. Thanks for letting me come over."

"Yeah, of course. Come on in."

Josh walked into Riley's apartment, his mind already distracted by the conversation they were about to have. He called her Wednesday after class and was basically sitting on this upcoming conversation for the past two days. Riley was working last night, so she promised Josh when she woke up on Saturday she would call him.

Josh took a seat on the couch, rubbing his palms nervously against his jean-covered thighs. "So..."

Riley sat with her legs curled underneath her in a chair opposite Josh, she nodded, not knowing exactly what to say.

"I need you to tell me what's going on with Maya... with Austin..." Josh finally said.

After what felt like hours, Riley and Josh had moved to the kitchen, their conversation draining both of them.

Josh sat at the bar in Riley's kitchen, a cup of untouched coffee sitting next to him. He had one arm folded in front of him, the other propping his head up as he listened to his niece.

"I don't know," Riley said finally stopping her pacing around the kitchen. She had spent the last nearly two hours divulging every bit of information she had on Austin, from the first time he and Maya dated, to his friends, to the way he was treating her best friend. Riley didn't hold back on her opinions of him either, she went from angry, to tearful and back to angry again as she unloaded everything she had been holding in about Austin to her Uncle.

Josh took a deep breath. "So what do we do?"

Riley shrugged sadly, "I've kind of learned that, with Maya, she doesn't really respond well to people telling her what to do..."

"But you said it yourself!" Josh said raising his arm pointing at Riley. "It's not healthy, Riley!"

"She's gonna have to figure it out for herself," Riley told him, her brows pulled together. She hated herself for saying it, but Riley knew Maya. She knew Maya would only dig her heels in if she tried to do anything, if she even said anything.

"So, what? What are we supposed to do, just sit back and - - have you seen her lately?!" Josh was losing his cool now. He had stayed relatively calm while Riley confirmed exactly what he was worried about for the past two hours. But now it was his turn to talk, and just thinking about what Riley had told him had Josh practically shaking with anger and worry for Maya.

Riley looked down, she could hear the concern in Josh's voice, and even more worry set deep within her. Josh was right, Maya was almost unrecognizable.

Josh's hands were clenched in tight fists. "Riley. I can't sit here and watch this happen. He's - -"

"I know," Riley cut Josh off. She had already said it once, she couldn't stomach hearing someone else say it.

Josh had made up his mind. "I'm gonna talk to her. We all need to talk to her."

"Yeah, but, it isn't her fault, that's going to make her feel like it's her fault." Riley was trying desperately to protect her best friend.

"Riley." Josh said, raising his voice, almost asserting his age on his niece.

Riley looked down, she knew Josh was right, but she was torn between being the one Maya came to when she was hurting and being the one who was going to hurt her.