# Maya Cooper

Maya Cooper is a fictional character from the Welsh-language soap opera Pobol y Cwm. She made her first appearance on 17 May 2023. Maya arrives in Cwmderi planning to open up her own pharmacy, she moved to the village to live with her partner Deylth who she had a long distance relationship with.
When Maya moves to the village she initially doesn't know much Welsh but after a year she is able understand as well as speak it quite well for a learner.

## Storylines
### Becoming close with Sioned

Maya becomes briefly acquainted with Sioned when she joins the local rugby team that she is a part of. In June 2023 Sioned falls unconscious before a rugby match, Maya starts CPR on her till the ambulance arrives which saves her life. When Sioned is discharged from the hospital she can't thank Maya enough, they come to an agreement that Sioned will help her learn Cymraeg (Welsh) as a repayment. Delyth soon became jealous of the amount of time they are spending together, Maya makes it clear to her that she can't stop her from having female friends.

### Christmas 2023

In the 2023 Christmas episode, there is a bad storm which causes a power outage throughout the village. Most of the villagers go to the local pub (Y Deri) to share any food they have with each other. Sioned arrives with some food from the fridges in her deli which would have gone to waste otherwise. She spots Maya and gives her a present, later on Sioned offers to fetch a generator back at Penrhewl and asks Maya if she wants to accompany her. Delyth offers to come too but Maya insists that she stays. Maya and Sioned go in the barn at Penrhewl to wait out the worst of the weather before getting the generator but the door shuts behind them and locks them in. While they wait for the weather to improve Sioned questions Maya about why she wouldn't open the present in the Deri, Maya explains that Delyth think that she fancies her. Sioned suggests they should use the time to practice some Welsh, specifically phrases that she can say to Delyth so that she can assure her that their relationship is solid.
Sioned teaches her the Welsh for "I can't stop thinking about you", sparks fly between them and they kiss. However the moment is short lived as Deylth bursts in and hugs Maya, making it clear that she was worried when she couldn't get in contact with her. Sioned offers to head back to the Deri with them and the generator but Delyth insists that her and Maya can manage. Later back at the Deri, Maya repeats her newly learnt phrases to which Delyth smiles and embraces her.

### Delyth's Exits + Maya's Temporary Exit

Between January and March 2024, Both Maya and Sioned keep the kiss a secret from their partners, however Eileen (Sioned's Mum) ends up walking in on them kissing after they both admitted that they felt something between them. The next day Sioned confirms to he mum that she still wants to be with DJ (her partner) but she can't help how she feels about Maya. Deylth asks Maya to marry her, feeling guilty about hiding her past from her. Maya plans an engagement party much to her surprise, the police are closing in on Delyth for the murder so she makes the decision to transfer to Sussex. Maya is hesitant to make to move and worries about how she'll learn Welsh there and feels like Delyth is rushing her into the decision. At the party, Sioned and Maya find themselves getting close again but however this time it's DJ who walks in on them. He leaves the Deri furious and makes sure everyone knows what he just witnessed, Delyth is shocked and questions Maya as they leave the party abruptly. Delyth admits to Maya that she's hurt but can forgive her and they can go to couples counselling. Maya continues to question her about her dodgy past with her ex but Delyth insists that she's not involved in the murder that her ex committed. However when Delyth realises that her son has confessed her involvement in the murder to the police she says a tearful goodbye to Maya and flees Cwmderi with her ex. Sioned who had come over earlier tells Maya that's she's pregnant and they reflect on the events of the past day. Maya advises Sioned to forget about her and focus on her family especially the issues she's having with her mum.
A week later, Dai (DJ's Dad) is upset that his son had fled to Ireland and lays most of the blame on Maya, he threatens her that if she doesn't leave the village then she'll be sorry. Maya goes to stay with a friend for a while and meets up with Sioned at one of the rugby matches, however this reunion is short lived as a DJ returns from Ireland wanting to talk things through with Sioned after finding out that she's pregnant. Maya realises that it's best if she goes back to Liverpool after everything that has happened and goes to Penrhewl to say goodbye, Sioned is visibly upset while DJ is delighted that Maya is now out of the picture.

### Return + Friendship with Iolo

On the 19th June 2024, Maya returns to Cwmderi, on the same day she also attends a charity event that Sioned is having. DJ is furious and accuses Sioned of being obsessed with her, they have an argument outside in the street and Sioned realises that they would be happier separated. A month later Eileen walks into the pharmacy and questions Maya about when she will be going back to Liverpool. Maya says that she doesn't have a date but plans on it being soon, Eileen pleads with her to stick around for a while to be there for Sioned as she won't be able to support her daughter as she'll probably be in jail, she offers to pay her for it which shocks Maya. Later on in day, Sioned drops by Maya's flat while she's making dinner, Maya promises to be there for her when the twins are born. Maya bumps into Eileen while she pops out to run an errand.
Eileen persists with her deal from earlier on to which Maya tries to shut her down, Sioned comes outside and sees the envelope of money in her mums hand and realises that her she was trying to bribe Maya. Sioned is upset at Maya and says she expected this from her mum but not her, Maya insists that she wasn't going to take the money but Sioned tells her to go back to Liverpool and storms off. The next day Sioned runs into Maya at the Deri, she tells her that she saw her brother at the clinic while she was waiting for her scan. Maya is concerned about her and is adamant that Sioned couldn't have seen her brother as he is dead. Sioned is annoyed at Maya for not being more understanding and leaves the Deri causing a further rift between them.
Maya's friend Iolo returns from South America and is happy to see her again. Iolo stands up his date, Maya finds out and arranges for them to meet up and they eventually break the ice and agree to give things ago. A couple weeks later, Maya meets up at the Deri with lolo and tells him that Megan has been hanging around the pharmacy all morning and seems lonely, she asks where her family are just as Megan walks in. She questions Maya about when the pharmacy will reopen. lolo decides to offer Megan a drink and to keep her company as he is free for the rest of the afternoon, Maya is grateful for his help.