Blue Crescent

Catch Me If You Can

Sixteen years ago

“Little Oak Guardian Homes, how may I help you?” the receptionist answered.

“There’s a baby at the gate, take her. Give her a name and a family,” the caller said.

“May I know who’s calling—”

The surprised receptionist looked at the phone when the caller cut the line. Hearing a baby crying outside, she asked an attendant who happened to pass by the reception area.

“Excuse me,” the receptionist said, raising her hand to get the attendant's attention.

“Yes, anything I can help?” the attendant answered.

“I heard a baby crying, will you please check the gate?”

“Yeah sure.”

Moments later, the attendant came back with a crying baby.

“What a lovely baby,” the receptionist said. “Take her to the president’s office, I’ll create a record for her.”

“I will,” the attendant answered.

At the gate stood a man in a black suit, smoking a pipe. He was tall and good-looking. His eyes were glued at the entrance door of the building as he put his hands in his pockets. Smiling to himself, he continued to stand at the gate for a few moments like a tourist enjoying a scenery.

The gardener who was watering the plants noticed him and asked, “Anything I can help, Sir?”

The man smiled. “Hmmm . . . None at all. I just love watching doors,” he said.

The gardener glanced at the orphanage’s entrance with narrowed eyes and gave his attention back to the stranger who disappeared in a blink of an eye.

“Where is he?” he asked himself.

***

Six years later

“Maddie, come and join us. Let’s play,” Emma said smiling.

Looking at the window, I shook my head in response.

“Don’t let her join us. She’s ugly,” Fred said, approaching her while the rest of the children continued to laugh and chase each other.

“No, she’s not,” Emma answered.

I closed the curtains and lay back on my bed. Gazing at the ceiling, I listened to the laughter of the children playing in the sun.

“Don’t mind him, Maddie! You’re the most beautiful girl in the world!” Emma said loudly as if to ensure I would hear her.

Knock! Knock!

“Hello Maddie. Want some snacks?” Meredith greeted, holding a tray loaded with sandwiches and a glass of milk.

I got up and extended my hand.

“Here you go,” she said as she sat on the bed.

I drank the glass of milk and ate the sandwich slowly.

“Anything okay, Maddie?” she asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just wondering why those kids out there don’t want to play with me.” I frowned.

“Because you need to rest. You easily get tired, and you need to be strong before I let you play outside.”

“But I want to play with them. I wanna play like the other 6-year-olds do.”

“You will, Maddie. Once you get better, I’ll let you—”

A girl suddenly screamed at the top of her voice that interrupted her.

“Who is that?” I asked.

“Oh, that’s Amber. She’s ten years older than you,” she answered softly.

“Why is she screaming?”

“Ahm . . . because she is not well.”

I climbed out of the bed and opened the curtains. Looking out of the window, I saw the girl screaming as she was taken into a vehicle.

“Finish your snacks, and don't forget to take your vitamins.”

“Is she an orphan like me?” I asked, climbing back to my bed.

“Yes, Maddie. But don’t think too much about it. We are your family, and I am a family, am I not?”

“Of course, you are,” I said, munching on the sandwich while she was touching my hair.

I was six years old when I realized nobody wanted me; not even Meredith. All those times I thought she loved me as family, but she treated me like I wasn’t human. She was giving me vitamins but then switched to antianxiety drugs when I reached 15, and I didn’t know why. I grew up being bullied and had no friends, except Emma. She was my savior and a sister. She was the only one who made me feel accepted.

“Hey,” she said, opening the door.

“Hi, Emma,” I said as I got up on my bed.

“Guess what? I finally have foster parents!” she said happily while combing my long tangerine red curls. “and they’re going to pick me up tomorrow.”

“Wow, that's . . . great news. I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks. Promise me that you’ll remain cheerful no matter what others say about you.” She smiled.

“Yeah, I will . . . but . . . I will miss you. I’ll be losing the best human in the world,” I said sadly.

Emma threw me into her arms and gently caressed my hair. I could feel her tears streaming down her face too.

“I will always be your friend and your sister," she said. "In fact, I wish we were real sisters. You’ll soon find yours too, and you will have parents to call you their own daughter. You will go to school, travel, and enjoy the world outside like other kids do. I promise to call and visit you, okay?" she added before looking at me.

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

That was the last time I ever saw Emma. She kept her promise to call and visit me, but one day, she stopped communicating, and I never heard from her again. It was as if rejection became part of my life that I had no choice but to get used to being abandoned by people I love and stand on my own. My heart was crushed, but I kept her words in my heart—to be cheerful no matter what. I had to fake it 'till I make it.