Lilianna sits in the corner of her cell with her knees against her chest and her head down. She questions why she's even there. Just a few days ago, she was in her normal room, but now, she's been moved to a new one that feels more like a prison cell. The small space padded white walls and floors, and the sparse furnishings—a toilet, sink, desk, and bed—create a stark, oppressive environment. She wonders if she's done something wrong or if they've finally decided she's insane. The questions swirl in her mind, filling her with fear about what might happen next.
So far, only women have come to bring her food, clothes, and hygiene items, which offers her some comfort, but she can't shake the fear that men will eventually come. She hasn't been touched in almost two years since those guards were caught, but she knows she's never truly safe. The threat of attack looms over her because, in her mind, that's what it means to be a girl. She learned early on that men are always in control and that there's nothing she can do about it. She's come to accept that she might as well just endure it.
Despite this resignation, men still terrify her. Even after the assaults stopped, she never felt safe around men. In class or any integrated activity, she would panic if a boy even looked at her, making it nearly impossible for her to participate. This led to her receiving private lessons, further isolating her from her peers. She didn't mind being alone, though. She found solace in drifting into her own mind, where she could find peace. But no matter how much the psychologists tried, she knew she would never trust a man again.
As she begins to doze off, the familiar sound of the door unlocking snaps her back to reality. Her heart races, fearing that a man is finally coming for her. But when she peeks to the side, she sees a woman entering, and she relaxes slightly, though she remains still. The woman hesitates for a moment, then comes closer.
"Hi there," the woman says, her voice shaky. "Your name is Lilianna, right? My name is Kira. Do you mind if I talk to you for a few minutes?" Kira fiddles with her fingers, clearly nervous, which eases Lilianna's fear. Lilianna nods and slightly raises her head, just enough so they can both see each other. Kira sits down.
Kira seems unsure of what to say, so Lilianna decides to speak first. "Who are you?"
"I'm…" Kira pauses, struggling to find the right words. "I'm just staff," she finally says, but it's an obvious lie. Rather than question it, Lilianna asks, "Do you know why I'm here?"
Kira suddenly looks pained and begins to cry, seemingly for no reason. Lilianna doesn't know anything about her but seeing Kira cry makes her heart ache too. "Why are you crying? Did I do a bad thing?" Lilianna asks, concerned.
Kira looks at her with a shocked expression, then unexpectedly throws her arms around Lilianna, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I don't know how much pain you've had to deal with all this time, and I'm sorry that no one was there to save you sooner. But I just want you to know you're not bad. You're a good girl who's very important, so never think less of yourself. You are loved, I promise."
Although Lilianna doesn't know Kira, the warmth and safety she feels from this hug overwhelm her, and she starts to cry like she's never cried before. They cry together for what feels like an eternity, but then, just as quickly as it began, Kira is gone. A guard signals her to leave, and suddenly, Lilianna is alone again. The emptiness rushes back, and she feels abandoned, but before she can cry again, another staff member enters moments later. Her eyes widen in fear as a man walks toward her, and she instinctively prepares for the worst.
"Please don't be scared," the man says gently. "I'm just here to take you to your new room. You don't want to stay here, right?" Lilianna doesn't respond but shakes her head slightly. The man doesn't seem menacing, but she still doesn't trust him.
"Ken," a woman's voice calls out, "let me take it from here. I think she'd feel safer with me, right?" The woman looks at Lilianna, who nods. The man acknowledges this with a nod and leaves.
"I'm sorry about that, Lilianna," the woman says as she steps closer. "I was running a bit late, and Ken was just covering my duties. I'm sure you want to get out of this dreary place, so would you mind following me?" She smiles, and Lilianna starts to feel at ease, sensing that she can trust this woman. She stands upright, and as the woman begins to walk, Lilianna follows.
They walk up two flights of stairs and into a wing Lilianna has never seen before. The woman keys in a code, and an automatic door opens. As they walk through, Lilianna is awed by the colorful and high-tech setup. They pass through a long hallway and into a large open room filled with colorful chairs, tables, a TV, game systems, a stereo, and bookshelves. To the right is a dining area, with the kitchen just behind. Everything is so vibrant and modern; unlike anything Lilianna has seen before. She wonders why she's been brought here as they finally stop walking.
"Pretty nice place, right?" the woman says. "This is your social room, where you and your friends can hang out and have fun during your free time. The kitchen is fully accessible, though we know you haven't had much opportunity to practice cooking, so a chef will come twice a day to prepare lunch and dinner for you. Breakfast foods will also be stocked. There will be cleaning staff assigned to tidy up three times a week, so no need to worry about that. And I want to assure you, all the staff will be women and strictly screened. Now, let's continue."
They walk down another, shorter hallway and stop at a door on the left. The woman keys in a code, and once again, an automatic door opens. They enter, and Lilianna is in awe. The room is brightly decorated with two twin beds, dressers, desks, and bathrooms. The room has a neutral color scheme, but it's stylish enough to be considered a girl's room. "This is really my room?" Lilianna asks, almost in disbelief.
"Yes, it really is your room. Well, you will have a roommate." Lilianna's smile fades, and the woman notices. "Oh, but don't worry! It's a girl, of course, and she's very solitary, so you two should be able to cohabitate just fine. She's quite respectful and will certainly adhere to any boundaries you'd like to set."
The woman's words soothe Lilianna slightly, but she's still wary of the idea. She had her own room before because she couldn't socialize well, not even with other girls. It's hard to imagine it will be any different with a roommate, but she doesn't want to go back to her old room or the prison-like cell, so she nods and accepts her fate.
"I promise that everything will be okay, Lilianna," the woman says. "You have my word. No one will be able to access this room but you two and me, of course. We're the only ones in the whole world who'll know the code—it's the only way to get in. Oh, I'm Gia, by the way. You can think of me as your personal advisor. I'll be here to help you with anything you need. So just leave it to me. Will that be okay, Lilianna?" Lilianna nods. "Great. Now let me go get your roommate. We'll be back soon, so just make yourself at home." Lilianna nods again, and Gia leaves.
Lilianna sits at her desk and looks around the room. Maybe a roommate won't be so bad, she thinks. In a huge room like this, being alone might feel a bit lonely.
About fifteen minutes later, Gia returns and introduces Lilianna to her roommate, Mai. Seeing Mai's darkly toned skin and long blue hair tied up in a ponytail, Lilianna thinks she looks really pretty. But Mai also seems tough, with a muscular figure that makes Lilianna a little scared. Her mind feels jumbled—she knows Mai is a girl, but her instinct reacts in a way it normally would around boys. She's both scared and in awe of Mai, and the intense way Mai stares at her doesn't help ease her discomfort.
But strangely, despite the discomfort, Lilianna also feels safer than she ever has before. She has a sense that Mai would protect her and that she's someone Lilianna can trust. Mai seems lost in thought, but she snaps back to reality when Gia calls her name.
"I apologize for my strange hesitation. I'm Mai. I really hope we can get along, Lilianna." Mai smiles warmly.
She seems so sincere and kind that Lilianna instantly forgets her fear. For the first time in what feels like forever, Lilianna smiles, raising her hand in response to Mai's greeting. Feeling bashful, but determined, she says, "Lili. Just call me Lili." Mai's bright smile reassures Lilianna, and in that moment, she knows she's finally made her first true friend.