Chapter 1: Lila's POV
My eyes fluttered open, greeted by the familiar sight of the orphanage’s drab ceiling.
Today, was officially my last day here.
I threw off the covers, and swung my legs ,over the side of the bed. My feet dangling in the air.
As I looked around the room, my gaze fell on my small suitcase, tucked away in the corner of the room, a room that I share with three other people.
The door bursted open, and my best friends, Mia and Lucas, trooped in.
“Jesus, Lila, breakfast’s in 10 minutes and you’re just waking up” Mia said
Lucas lifted a brow at her, “you sound so surprised,”
“I’m not, it’s just, knowing what day it is, I thought she’d wake up early, at least” she sighed.
I got up hurriedly, “okay, okay, I’m going to have my bath,I’ll be quick” I said grabbing my bathing essentials and headed for the bathroom closing the door behind me.
“Be quick” Mia called after me.
This was it. The day I had been dreading was finally here. I feel knots tie at the pit of my stomach.
All my life. I’ve only known the orphanage, the caregivers my aunties, the director, my mother, the other kids, my sibling. But due to financial constraints, they were letting the older kids go.
I understood. They had the younger kids to cater for, and they were a lot, it would surprise you the amount of parents who don’t want their kids.
I emerged from the bathroom, towel-drying my hair, and dressed up and joined my friends in the common room.
Mia and Lucas were already seated at the table, sipping their juice and chatting with the others.
The younger kids looked gloomy, they knew what day it was, seven of us were leaving.
My little best friend, Chloe, came throwing her arms around me, tears welling in her eyes,just as I took my seat.
“Oh Chloe,” i whispered, my own emotion surging,I could feels the tears coming, she’s being in her feelings since she knew I was leaving.
“Promise you’ll come see me everyday?” This was the 100th time she was asking this, and every time my answer remained the same.
“Maybe not everyday Chloe but I’ll always come see you” I gave her a reassuring hug, as she cries into my shoulder.
“awwww, you two are gonna make me cry” Mia pretended to sniffle.
Just then the director, Mrs. Jenkins entered the room, her presence commanding attention “good morning every one. I trust you’re all doing well. Can I see you seven in my office briefly?” She gestured to us.
I stood, “hey baby, I’ll be back shortly okay?” I say to Chloe letting go of her. She nodded, and occupied the seat I was sitting on taking a sip of my untouched juice.
“Okay, this is it guys.” Mrs. Jenkins starts once we settled in, some of us standing because the seats aren’t enough.
“This is a day you’ll never forget in your entire life, because whoever you become, will depend on the decision you make once you walk out that door. I apologize again, for sending you off before time, I hate myself, but I know you’re ready, I know the morals and values I’ve installed in you all will guide you” she smiled sadly.
Then she hands each of us a parcel.
“Adam, Rebecca, Lucas, Jerome, Grace, Mia, Lila, Jason - Go out there and make me proud.”
We took the parcel, our eyes fixed on her face. The parcels were small, but they felt heavy with significance.
“Remember kids,” she continued, her voice cracking with emotions. “No matter where life takes you, never forget where you came from”
We nodded, our eyes welling with tears.
“Good luck kids,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
We hugged and thanked her profusely, our hearts heavy with emotion.
“Lila,” she called as everyone started walking out of the office.
“There’s a gift here for you, she smiled, handing me a bouquet of sunflowers. “I’m sure it won’t be tough out there for you kid, I’m sure of it, be careful okay?”
I hug her again, wiping off tears from my cheeks.
Stepping outside, Mia raised an eyebrow seeing me with the flowers. “ again?”
This would be the fifth time I’d received flowers from an unknown sender, the card always unsigned.
“What does it say this time?” Lucas asked
I opened the card, it read: “keep shinning Lila, you got this!”
They both looked up at me with concern eyes.
A sense of unease settled over me, someone was watching me very closely, tracking my every move and I didn’t know how to feel about that.
