Chapter 2: A nightmare—an echo of the past
A worried voice echoed in the darkness. Almost inaudible at first, but slowly and surely the voice became louder and clearer. A glowing ray of hope slaying the cold darkness to get to her. A voice full of care that pulled her out of the darkness that had enveloped her. The cold of the sea started vanishing bit by bit. A voice that pulled her back to reality.
"Hey! Wake up! Wake...wake up! WAKE UP!!"
His voice came out shaky, but he quickly regained composure. Usually it doesn't take much to wake her. She was a light sleeper, especially after that hell of a day, but now after shaking her and calling her multiple times, he wasn't able to wake her up. The nightmare about that day still clung to her like a ghost even though it's been years. Holding her with its grip of ice and terror every chance it got, holding its prisoner so tight, not willing to let her go.
She woke in a cold sweat. The nightmare, it felt so real...like she was there again: the field, the forest, the monster, the fire, the village...and...and that sky. That demonic reminder of the confusion and fear from that day. The day that took everything from them, they left Amber Island and didn't see those shores again. The calm waves of its beach remain a bittersweet memory covered in dandelions and laughter.
Her mind was racing, and her heart was hammering like it was about to burst out of her chest. She could swear that one could hear it from three countries away.
"Nightmare?" Liam asked quietly as he let out a shaky breath of relief. At least she was awake. At least that nightmare was over. He already knew the answer without her needing to say it. This wasn't the first time this happened.
Quietly he sat next to her. Having guessed what the nightmare was about, he didn't want to overwhelm her. If he had to guess, he would say it was about 17 May, that hell-like day that turned their life upside down. It had been three long and equally infernal years since that day; even now he couldn't help but shudder. People say that time heals any wound, but they don't agree with it. It just haunts you until it stops hurting. That is if it ever stops hurting.
After what felt like an eternity, she nodded silently, the question finally sinking in as she slowly realized it was a dream. It was just a dream, again. After that day she kept having the same nightmare over and over again, like a ghost of the past was chasing her, and every single time it was about that day. Although he couldn't deny the fact that he had those nightmares too, they were never even close to hers. Hers felt more real. Every time she woke up shaken, and he could see it in her eyes, it left as if she was there again. As if she were that same helpless little girl whose only option was to run.
"Want to talk about it?" He started rubbing her back in an attempt to calm her down and anchor her back to reality. Even the hope that it might work made him do it. His parents used to do the same when he was little and shaken up from nightmares. At least back then things were easier.
"No, I'm fine." She brushed him off, like always. Liam pretended to believe her, swallowing the urge to call her out. She couldn't keep bottling her feelings like this. Playing strong doesn't last forever. Sooner or later even the strongest shatter under pressure. A pressure that could have been avoided if they let the ones who care in. His mind was debating whether to call her out or turn a blind eye.
She changed beyond recognition since the day they left home. Looking at her now, he couldn't help but feel a sharp pain in his chest. She went from the warm, talkative, and harmless little storm that brought adventures instead of troubles to this colder, quieter girl with ghosts in her eyes. He witnessed that change firsthand, and it hurt even if he understood the pain behind it. He tried to do something, but it was futile. This wasn't just sad, this was tragic. You can't even tell they are the same person. Now he can't see that girl no matter how hard he tries. It felt as if she completely erased that girl. Deep down he hadn't forgotten that hurricane, and he also hoped she hadn't either.
//She's lying... I just know it—she's lying...even she doesn't believe that she's fine. She's just saying it so I won't worry, but I'm more worried for her. Or maybe she thinks that if she says it enough times, it will come true. Either way, she can't keep doing this to herself. // He thought to himself as his hands clenched into fists in frustration. Choosing not to voice his concern, he unclenched them with a heavy sigh. A sigh that held the weight of all the things he ever left unsaid, all the time he pretended not to see the cracks, all the times he acted like it didn't hurt seeing her like this, and all the things he kept inside just to play her twisted game. // She'll face it when she's ready...if she's ever ready. This choice is only hers to make. //
"Just know I'm here." Liam managed a reply. His voice was so steady it even surprised himself. It looks like the more he does it, the better he becomes, as if that could also ease the pain. It took all his self-control not to shake her so violently that her brain would snap back into place. That is, if she still had it, which he was not so sure about. He sighed internally. Only time would tell if he made the right choice. For now all he could do was pray.
She didn't reply, just leaned on his shoulder, a small acknowledgment of both his efforts and his presence. That is what he always does—shows up. No promises for better. Not trying to fix things. Just being there, offering his presence and quiet support, was all she needed.
Silence slowly began to settle in between the two. It wasn't like any silence. It wasn't suffocating nor like a gap that needed to be filled...it was just there, somehow comforting in this wild and unpredictable world, and safe in this twisted way they couldn't fully grasp.