Behind the walls of My Heart

The dream returns without mercy. She is seventeen again. Liana stands barefoot in the narrow hallway of the orphanage, the cold floor seeping into her skin. The air feels heavy, thick with silence, broken only by the faint flicker of the tube light above her. It blinks on and off, casting trembling shadows on the walls. Her own room is just a few steps behind her, but she cannot move. Her eyes are fixed on the door at the end of the corridor. Another room. Someone else’s room. A sound reaches her ears—soft at first, almost mistaken for the wind. Then it comes again. A muffled sob. A desperate whimper. Liana’s heart slams painfully against her chest. Her breath catches as fear coils tightly around her throat. Every instinct tells her to turn back, to close herself inside her room and pretend she heard nothing. That is what everyone here does. That is how you survive. But her feet refuse to listen. The door ahead is slightly open. Just enough. Liana takes one hesitant step forward. Her hands tremble as she peers through the narrow gap. Inside the dimly lit room, she sees movement—shadows shifting against the wall. Then she sees the girl. She looks about Liana’s age. Her face is pale, her body stiff with terror. Her eyes are wide, glistening with tears that spill silently down her cheeks. For one brief moment, the girl’s gaze meets Liana’s. Help me. The plea is wordless, but it crashes into Liana’s chest like a scream. “No…” Liana whispers, horror flooding her veins. Her heart pounds so loudly she fears it will give her away. Her hands curl into fists at her sides, nails digging painfully into her palms. She wants to move. She wants to run inside and pull the girl away. She wants to shout for help. But fear roots her to the floor. The girl cries out softly. Something inside Liana breaks. Tears blur her vision as panic takes over. Her chest tightens until breathing becomes painful. The walls feel closer now, crushing her in. Guilt and terror wrap around her like chains. “Leave her!” Liana screams suddenly. “Please… leave her alone!” Her voice echoes down the hallway. The sound of her own scream jolts her awake. Liana gasps sharply, sitting upright in bed. Her heart races wildly, her breath uneven and shallow. Sweat clings to her skin, her hair damp against her forehead. Her hands clutch the bedsheet as if she is still standing in that hallway, unable to move. “No… no…” she whispers brokenly. Tears slide down her cheeks before she can stop them. Years have passed. So many years. Yet the fear still lives inside her, buried deep but never gone. The room around her is quiet. Safe. Soft morning light filters through the curtains, touching the familiar walls of her bedroom. She presses a trembling hand to her chest, forcing herself to breathe. A small voice breaks the silence. “Mommy…” Liana turns instantly. Lily is curled beside her, half asleep, her tiny fingers gripping Liana’s sleeve. The sight of her daughter pulls Liana back to the present, anchoring her heart. “I’m here,” Liana whispers, gathering Lily into her arms. “I’m here.” She holds her tightly, pressing a gentle kiss to her hair. The past may still haunt her dreams, but this—this little life in her arms—is real. She couldn’t save that girl back then. But she will protect Lily with everything she has. As the world outside begins to wake, Liana Brooks prepares to face another day, locking her memories away once more—hidden carefully behind the walls of her heart.