Maya lies on the witness stand because of events that led up to her rape by Mr. Freeman. Mr. Freeman had molested her multiple times leading up to her rape (Chapter 11). When asked by the prosecutor if there had been previous incidents of sexual assault, Maya feels as though she is caught in a trap. She does not want to lie, but she also does not want to admit to the previous incidents. She fears that if she admits to them, she will be seen as a "bad girl." She also fears rejection by her family, who took her to the hospital and stood by her throughout the ordeal. She is afraid that they will feel betrayed because she did not tell them about the previous incidents of abuse.

After she lies on the stand and Mr. Freeman is released and then beaten to death, Maya feels immense amounts of guilt. She feels that her lie resulted in the death of a man who, despite his abuse of her, she viewed as a father figure. Her family never discusses the incident, and this only serves to intensify her guilt.