I'm Still Me

[set in and after GMTriangle]
"I'm different, but I'm not you."

"Maya."

There it was. That tone again. Like there was something wrong with her. Like who she is now was a problem.

"No." She blurted. She wanted that tone to stop. "I know what you're gonna say, and just don't."

Riley didn't say anything after that but she looked at Maya with a crease to her brow, and a tilt of her head.

Which was worse. Riley was looking at her like she needed to be fixed.

And yes, for the majority of her life she was broken and in need of fixing. But not anymore. She was better.

Why was she the only one who could see that?

"Stop looking at me! Stop trying to fix me! I don't need to be fixed!" Her voice had raised. Because maybe that's the only way to get Riley to listen.

She looked at Riley's parents. "And stop just sitting there! Why aren't you giving us a life lesson? or words of advice? You're the adults, why aren't you helping?" Her voice had cracked.