Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 64617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
We’d been living with the Byrons for the past year. Before them, it was another shitty family, the Smiths. Before the Smiths, it was the Hunters, and the list went on with how many shitty families we’d been placed with.
Moved without notice, each time praying we’d hit the lottery of foster homes and get a decent family who’d love us, or at least care.
It wasn’t all that bad. Misty was always able to pull some strings to place Bailey and me in the same temporary homes, which was all we wanted.
In four years, we’d been placed in six different foster homes and five different schools.
The foster parents who were supposed to be taking care of us never did.
They drank.
They smoked.
They did drugs instead.
Someone should have done something, but no one ever did.
We never told Misty or any of the other kids’ caseworkers what we saw, or what was actually happening in these homes they believed were safe. Pretending as if life was perfect anytime someone stopped by to check on us. Terrified if we did tell them the truth, they’d split us up.
Each time they moved us, Bailey and I shared the only black trash bag we owned. Not having any proper luggage to go house to house to house in.
Each time they moved us, not all our stuff went with us. Most of our hand-me-downs got left behind for the next kid to wear them.
Each time they moved us, we lost a little more hope, a little more of our dreams, a little more…
Everything.
No one to tell us “I love you.”
No one to tell us “Happy birthday.”
No one to tell us we were going to be okay.
There was no one…
But us.
Our prized possessions never left that trash bag, afraid we wouldn’t be able to grab them in time when we were escorted out. My book, blanket and pillow, picture frame, and Bailey’s heart necklace were the only items that meant anything to us anyway.
“Aiden, I’m scared,” Bailey whispered, breaking my heart a little more. “I’m really scared.”
Even if we broke our silence, it wouldn’t change anything.
They weren’t really there to see…
Even if they asked.
Even if they listened.
They wouldn’t care about our story.
They hadn’t seen what we’d seen.
Heard what we’d heard.
Felt what we’d felt.
No one could truly understand what it was like for us, because at the end of the day…
It wasn’t their problem, it was ours, and only ours. There were thousands of kids just like us, floating around the system. Waiting for a new mom and dad to choose them. Disappointed when the kid they shared a room with was picked over them. The truth was, the older you became the more hope of being adopted faded. You were the bottom of the barrel, being older secured us that spot.
“You worthless piece of shi—”
“Bay, guess what? I got an A on my math test,” I shared, distracting her from the reality of our life.
“You did?” She sniffled, gazing up at me with hope in her eyes.
“I did. You know what that means?”
“You can test out of sixth grade math now?”
“Yeah.”
“Really?”
“Yes. So now I’m closer to finishing school and can take care of us quicker.”
“You swear?”
“I wouldn’t lie to you. Ever. I’m going to buy us the house of your dreams one day, Bay.”
“The one with the white picket fence and red door?”
“That’s exactly the one. Your happy place.”
“You promise, promise?”
“Cross my heart.”
“Can I plant a garden? One with only sunflowers?”
“I’ll buy you every last sunflower I can find.”
“Okay.” She smiled, as I wiped away her tears.
She still looked so scared.
I desperately tried to stay strong for her, ignoring the rambling and thrashing coming from the living room through the thin ass walls.
Her arms wrapped around my neck so tightly, and for the first time in a long time, it felt like she wanted to give up. Bailey wasn’t as strong as I was, and it made everything that much harder on me. I had to be her rock in order for us to survive the outcome.
“Why don’t they want us, Aiden? Why doesn’t anyone ever want us?”
“I want you, Bailey. I want you.”
“You promi—”
BANG, BANG, BANG!
“Police! Open up!”
All the blood drained from my face, and my heart leapt up into my throat. There was no hiding it, not in a moment like this.
“Aiden, what’s going on?”
The front door crashed open, rattling the whole damn house. Boxes fell from the shelves above us, and heavy footsteps were heard clear as day.
“It’s not what it looks like,” Mr. Byron lied through his teeth. It was exactly what it looked like.
Someone must have called the cops.
“Bailey, run!” I ordered, my voice rumbling in my head.
“What? Why—”
I threw open the closet doors just as all hell broke loose.
“Oh fuck,” I heard one of the men, wearing an officer uniform, breathe out.
He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw us hiding in the closet.