Created By

thatbluewoman

Rate this Story

Embed

   “Drix, we have to talk.” Fay, the orphanage teacher, sat down on the worn chair at the side of my bed and looked unbelievingly remorseful. I felt maybe a hint of guilt and pain. Definitely pain. Detecting any emotions radiating from people was an ability of mine. True emotions from me, however, were carefully guarded and hardly ever seen because I faked it a lot.

   “Huh? Oh, okay.” I was bringing up the covers from the foot of the bed, thinking Fay was going to tell me a bedtime story. After settling my nine-and-a-half years old body under my cozy blankets, I stared up expectantly at Fay.

   “Well,” she began, “Do you know about your real parents? And why you’re here without them?”

   “But you are my parents. And Brandon, Jan, Hailey, Keanie, and Sora are all my brothers and sisters. We’re one great big family.” I smiled, looking knowingly up at Fay, and demonstrated by holding my arms out wide, like I was giving a bear hug. “We’ll be together forever. That’s what you promised.”

   “Drix…there’s something I have to tell you,” she responded, swallowing, eyes full of sadness. “Your mother, Lucy, and your father, Wes…they are your real parents. Your real mom and dad.”

   “I don’t know who they are, Fay. What are you talking about?” I looked at her, confused. “I’ve never met them in my life.”

   “They...they brought you here, to this orphanage. They couldn’t raise you. They didn’t know how.” A silence stretched between us as I paused to process the information, yet still not understanding what she was trying to say.

   Fay cleared her throat. “Do you know what an orphanage is?” I shook my head. “It’s a place where children go when their parents can’t take care of them or if the children’s parents dies and had nowhere to go.”

   I suddenly got it. But I didn’t want to believe it.

   “My parents didn’t want me?” I whispered. “They just dumped me here and left?” Fay nodded solemnly. “I’m sorry,” she said. She reached out and squeezed a hug on me. We stayed like that for a long, long time as shock ran through my whole body and tears streamed down my face.

   When she let go, her face was bright again. “I have good news for you, Drix.”
   “Really?” I said, hopefully. Maybe my parents wanted me back again. I wiped my drenched eyes.

   “You are going to have parents! New ones!” Fay smiled triumphantly. “And they’re coming to get you tomorrow!”

   “But...what about my other parents? Where are they?” I asked, puzzled. “Don’t they want me back?”

   Fay’s face fell slightly. “I’m sorry, honey, but they aren’t coming back. Ever.”

   “Where will I go? My new parents are taking me away, is that it?” I asked, willing Fay to say no. She looked away and didn’t say anything. That meant yes.

   “You PROMISED!” I screamed, throwing myself against my bed with such force that I felt the floor shake. “You promised that we’d stay together FORVER!!” My eyes blubbered with an overflow of tears yet again. As I sobbed, Fay hugged me tightly, saying, “There was nothing I can do. I’m sorry, I’m so, so sorry, Drix.” She cried with me and we fell asleep with tears streaming from our faces.

■□■□■□

   The next morning, I met my new parents, Frank and Polly, who looked like they were in their thirties or forties. They seemed nice when they talked to me. My few belongings that had been shoved into a small suitcase was brought into the trunk of their very small green car. I waved tearful goodbyes and hugged everyone, promising to keep in touch if I could and hoped to see them again. Fay embraced me last, and before I turned away, she slipped a small, soft box in my hand.
   “Use it when you really need it, Drix. I won’t forget you.” Fay said to me, on the verge of tears again. “I couldn’t no matter how hard I tried. Goodbye, my dear.” she whispered.

   I climbed into the backseat of the car, my body numb. My new parents gave me comforting smiles. I forced a polite smile on my face. As they turned back in their seats, a single, fat tear dripped down my cheek and off my chin. I vowed never to cry again.