Behind My Heart

Summary-Sequel to BME On the outside, you see a girl who’s happy and carefree. But, behind my heart you see a girl who’s trying to deal with life now that her brother is blind, a girl trying to have a boyfriend who isn’t allowed to see her, and a girl who’s too afraid to go home everyday. . .

“Are you sure you want me to get them?” Dr. Anker asked quietly. Liam bowed his head and started to cry harder, but he nodded anyway. “Well, if you’re sure.” He pocketed his stethoscope and walked over to the door, opening it. “You can come back in now; Liam wants to tell you something.”

“What’s wrong? What’s the matter?” Jayden asked in a low voice. I held up my hand and shook my head, then motioned to Liam.

“I-I-I’m b-bl-bli-ind” Liam sobbed into his hands.

“What?” Cayden asked quietly.

“I said I’m blind” Liam whispered, lifting his face from his hands. Cage cringed at how Liam’s eyes wouldn’t focus on anything and seemed to go in different directions. Cayden elbowed him in the side. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“It’s a shock” Cage replied. Cayden elbowed him once again.

“You, uh, have to give us a little bit to get used to this” Jayden said quietly.

“At least you can” Liam snapped. “I’ll never get used to being blind.”

Blind-Adjective-unable to see; lacking the sense of sight; sightless

Liam is blind. I still can’t believe it. . .

All of this happened two days ago. Now, Liam is at home, trying to adjust to fact that he’s blind. Dad has been acting nicer than usual. Liam and I can’t trust him. We’ve gone through this phase before. Cayden, Jayden, and Cage are starting to think that he’s quit his abusive ways, but Liam and I know better.

This is so hard, my life I mean. I have an ‘unofficial’ boyfriend who isn’t aloud to see me and sneaks out just to do that and gets into even more trouble from his dad. I mean, I’m happy when he’s around me, I’m just scared that his dad will make him move to an all guys’ boarding school or something. I don’t know, I’ve been telling him to stand up to his dad, like I do with mine, but whenever I bring up that topic, he’s quick to change it.

Mute-Adjective-silent; refraining from speech or utterance

Liam doesn’t talk that much anymore. He hardly leaves his room either. I don’t know what he does and I don’t want to pressure him. He can’t really do anything with his arm in a cast. He gets these headaches from time to time that make him sick. He throws up and gets a temperature. But, the doctor said that’ll probably just be once every week. It scares me sometimes; to wake up and hear him throwing up in the bathroom.

Lots of people have been telling me that I’ve changed. I don’t think I have. I feel the same as I always have. But, then again, you never feel yourself change so. . .

My life’s changing . . . and not for the better.

Rebel Girl

Rhuben Jackson

I closed my notebook and leaned back against my bed post. I let out a sigh and set it aside. Lots of things have happened to me and my friends recently. It all seems like a dream. But looking into Liam’s eyes snap me back into reality. He’s actually blind. He’ll never be able to see. I jumped as the alarm on my watch went off.

I got to my feet, stretched, and went to Liam’s room. I knocked lightly on the door and waited patiently for him to walk over to the door and open it. As soon as he did, his hand went out, searching for mine. I took his small hand and we started slowly down the stairs, making sure Liam wouldn’t fall.

Everyday around this time Liam would like to go out for a walk just to get out of the house. He hasn’t said anything about being blind, but he can tell when people that pass him give him an odd look. He always bows his head, ashamed, and a blush spreads across his cheeks. He doesn’t speak up for himself like he used to. I don’t know when he’ll want to go back to school, but dad and I don’t pressure him into it.

“It’s warm today” Liam muttered.

“Yeah, it is. Once you’re cast comes off, maybe we can go surfing like we used to” I suggested. A shadow of a smile tugged onto Liam’s lips.

“That’d be cool” he whispered. “I haven’t surfed or gone to the beach in a while.” The two of us fell silent, not really knowing what to say. “Dad blinded me, didn’t he?”

“Yes, he did” I whispered in reply. “I-I just couldn’t face the fact that it was possible for you and I to be split up one day so I said we got beat up on the streets.”

“I just don’t get why he’s acting so nice” Liam muttered, shaking his head.

“Neither do I” I admitted. “But, he’s pulled this trick before, it won’t last.”

“Seriously” Liam said with a nod.

“Hey, uh, can I ask you a personal question?” I asked quietly.

“Sure” Liam replied, tightening his grip on my hand.

“You’re blind can’t see whole things I understand. But, what can you see?” I asked.

“Some people just see black like the lights are off, some see white or gray. I see black. That’s why I get so scared when I need to move. That’s why I don’t like leaving the top floor of our house” Liam replied quietly.

I nodded and we fell silent once again. We used to be able to talk about anything and everything. Now, we hardly say anything to each other. It’s hard for me, everything has changed. I never thought that something like this could ever happen.