As the sun set on the small town of Millfield, Indiana, residents gathered in their homes to prepare for a night of celebration. It was the annual Harvest Festival, a tradition that had been passed down from generation to generation. This year promised to be bigger and better than ever before with carnival rides, games, and live music. However, beneath the festive atmosphere lurked a dark secret.
The sun had barely risen, yet the city was already alive with activity. Cars honked as they weaved in and out of traffic, people shuffled along the crowded sidewalks, and street vendors called out to passersby. Amidst this chaos, a young woman named Maya stood at a busy intersection waiting for her light to turn green.
The first time we met, she was running away from her problems. The second time, she was still running. It wasn't until the third encounter that I realized there was no escaping her past. But as I got to know her better, I began to see that maybe it wasn't just her past that she was trying to leave behind - it was herself.
