KAYLA
It's the 28th day of June. That means it's been seven years since my parents died from a car crash. It also means it's my final week at the orphanage, seeing as today is my eighteenth birthday.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Reliving those terrible memories were already enough now I have to face everyone, I already know how this will go. I drag myself out of bed. But then I curl up into a ball on the floor and scoff...
"Who am I kidding, I might not even make it to lunch" then I laugh at how pathetic I am. The laugh turns into a series of sobs. I take at least ten minutes to pull myself together and I get up ready to begin this terrible day.
I try desperately to walk steadily to my washroom, I turn on the tap and wash my face. Looking up at the mirror,I stare at my reflection, looking back at me is a pair of light blue eyes with a green ring at the middle of the irises. My face is delicate with small freckles dotted around my nose. I sigh ,even at eighteenth I'd probably still look like a child to everyone else.
Even though my body is full developed in all the right places. I'm at a standard 5"7 in height. My hair is a shade of light brown and curly, my face, round and petite. I pout my lips in annoyance of my baby face and then smile just a little.
"Who do I even look like between my parents" I mumble to myself. I guess I'll never know. I pick up my toothbrush, put some toothpaste on it and brush away, trying my best not to recall the events of that day.
Once I'm done I take off my clothes, wrap a towel at my chest area, wash my hair and then I enter the bathtub, soak for a little while and cleanse my body and mind by dipping myself into the water.
I step out after 15 minutes and proceed to pick out the dress I am to wear. It's a white sun dress with green flowers imprinted all over. We're all going out on a tour, we'll all the older kids, the kids above 15 that is.
I walk out of my room and Betty my little best friend has found her way here. Immediately she spots me her big doe eyes light up and runs towards me I kneel to reach her height, she's only 7 years old so I take her into my arms, stand and twirl her around as she giggles and laughs uncontrollably. When I eventually stop she's so dizzy she can't stand straight. When she finally gets herself she says ...
"You look really beautiful." I smile at that knowing fully well that she means it. She takes my hand and leads me down the stairs as she signals me to bend closer to her and then she whispers "Happy birthday Kayla to me." I smile and plant a kiss on both of her rosy chubby cheeks and pat her on the head saying "thank you."
Immediately I walk into the big hall all the chill light up and sing me the happy birthday song I smile knowing that most of their words are pronounced wrong. I laugh just a little, tears in my eyes at their efforts.
Then I make my way to the front row and take a seat, crossing my legs as I turn around seeing all the older kids as they motha quick happy birthday to me as they are all excited for the tour to see where they could be working on the nearest future if they aren't adopted soon, like me.
The women I've known as my mothers are wiping away their tears at the sight of me, coming over to tell me what a wonderful young woman I've grown into.
After at least 30 minutes of birthday wishes and blessings, we leave, heading to a few common stores, restaurants and other places of business.
It saddens me that from the next week, I'll be alone, not seeing the people I consider family and friends again until in properly settled into my new life.
We arrive back at the orphanage by around six o'clock in the evening. I head upstairs and find Betty in my room, sitting on my bed, I walk up to her smiling warmly, she returns my smile and stretches out her hand to hand me a neatly wrapped blue box.
"It's a present." She says ever so softly. I smile and hug her tightly, when we finally break our of the embrace she leaves the room. I open the box to find all her coin collections neatly stacked and a note by the side that reads "For you journey tomorrow".
I wake up early the next morning because I received a call saying that I would be leaving today. I sigh softly, get up, pack my belongings, freshen up, dress and head out while the little kids are still asleep. I say my farewells to the older children. I give my trusted friend Nancy a letter to be given to Betty while she's still asleep once I leave. With the final goodbyes said, I put my luggage into the trunk, enter the car and watch as the people behind slowly drift away growing smaller and smaller as the distance widens until I can't see them anymore.
I put on my ear buds and close my eyes as I'm headed to my destination....
France