Maya’s weird,

not like anyone else I know.

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But she’s weirdly tough, too.

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One look from her

is enough to scare

kids away.

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She stopped talking

at school

a long time back.

---

Stopped talking

at home

when her dad left.

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Now she

grunts

or whines

or yells

a few words

never full thoughts.

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No one really knows

what’s going on

up there.