be there for myself

I was there—alone in the dark, surrounded by towering walls. The room was about ten by ten, windowless, and the door was locked.

“The little child in the room is safe,” said a sharp, cold voice in my head. “He is safe, and so are you. You are free to do whatever you want.”

And so I did. I accomplished everything I set my mind to. But in the end, I felt... empty.

Because deep inside me, the little boy was indeed safe—but he was alone, cut off from the outside world. Crying out for love and attention he could never receive. And even though I was protected, I was also isolated— lost in the dark.

Achieving great things, yet never satisfying the hunger within...

Much later, a girl came. She was bold and brave and loud. Her hair waved as she banged relentlessly on the door. The cold voice tried to keep her out. Its sharp tones cut deep into the girl’s flesh, like a bitter wind, but she kept knocking. Determination lit her eyes— she knew the boy was waiting to be found.

I tried to push her away in every way I could. But she kept banging—again and again. The voice kept hurting her, and I kept resisting. I was afraid she might hurt the boy.

The girl was persistent. But eventually, she gave in. Bruises covered her face and hands. The voice and the banging wore her down. She dropped to her knees and began to cry.

“I can’t give up,” she sobbed. “The boy needs me.”

Something clicked. She looked up—just as the boy opened the locked door.

He walked straight to her and pulled a tissue from his pocket. “Here you go,” said the boy, offering it to her.

The girl took it and wiped the tears from her face.

“I’m sorry for your bruises,” said the boy, sadness filling his wide eyes.

“It’s okay,” the girl replied with a grin. “I knew you'd come out.”

“I’m so happy you found me!” the boy said, nearly shouting. “I was really alone in there…”

He looked at her again and asked hesitantly: “Do you want to go out and play with me?”

His voice cracked at the end.

The girl looked into his eyes and paused—just for a second—before answering: “I thought you were never going to ask!” she burst out, laughing.

And they laughed together.

She grabbed his hand, and they ran off to play.