Describe one major incident where her naivety created real consequences (or nearly did). Be specific: a bad housing decision, an almost-scam, a romantic gesture to someone unworthy, an idealistic political argument she lost badly. Let the reader judge for themselves whether she was naive or you were cynical.

I laughed, but the others didn’t. They looked at her with that gentle, slightly embarrassed pity you reserve for someone who hasn’t learned yet. That’s when I first labeled it: naive.

The first time I thought it, we were standing in the dining hall. Maya had just told our entire table that she believed every person was fundamentally good. “Even the guy who stole my bike last week?” I asked, half-joking. She nodded. “Especially him. Maybe he needed it more than me.”