Weeks slowly turned into months.
Without realizing it, Maya's life began changing. Adrian started suggesting things that slowly became rules.
"You look better in darker clothes."
"You shouldn't post pictures online."
"You don't need those friends anymore."
At first Maya argued, but every disagreement ended the same way.
Adrian would hold her gently and whisper, "I only do this because I love you."
His voice always sounded sincere.
And every time, Maya believed him.
Soon she stopped meeting friends.
She stopped posting online.
She even changed the way she dressed.
Her world slowly became smaller.
And Adrian stood at the center of it.
But cages don't always look like prisons.
Sometimes…
They look like love.