Say you love me

Nine

POV TIVELLY

Chapter name: blast from the past

"Tivelly, come here, darling!" I open my tired eyes to the sound of Steph calling my name.

I happily sit up, walking towards the living room where my foster parents sit. I smile at them, sitting on the couch in front of them. They are hand in hand, with Stephanie's free hand laying on her baby bump.

"As you know... I'm expecting a baby." She starts, removing her hand from her stomach and placing it on my knee. I can already tell this will turn out bad for me. It always has.

"Meaning we cant take care of you and a baby... we have to think about our own family. I'm sure you understand?"

No. I don't. I've never had a family.

I nod.

"You're five, so you're a big girl now. You'll be going to a new family. I've heard they're amazing. I'm pretty sure you will be happy there."

"Can I go to my real mom instead?" I ask her, tears rolling down my cheeks. She sits up, looking at her husband. "No. You can't. She doesn't want you. You need to go to a new family." She tells me.

"Noah..." I look to my foster father, sniffling, hoping he will say they can keep me. He stays silent, looking away from me.

"They have twins your age. You'll have friends. They want to adopt you. This will be your forever home. You won't have to move around anymore." She gives me a soft smile, honestly thinking this solution will be better for her growing family and me.

A five-year-old that's moved from three different houses in her life. That's me. Stephanie and Noah have been my favorite foster parents. Now they have to give me away... to strangers.

"Will you come visit me?" I ask her. She stays silent before brushing a loose strand of hair out of my face, "If that's what you want."

"I want my real mom's address," I tell her.

"I'll tell you, but you can't go back to her." She responds, writing words and numbers down on a paper before stuffing it in my pocket. I don't dare to look at the pat on my head.

"My name is Mary. This is my husband, Presley." She introduces herself and her husband. Her husband glares down at me, not wanting me to be here.

"I'm... Tivelly." I say quietly, almost whispering. "I'm Able, and this is my sister Phoebe!" Two children looking almost the same run up to me with excited smiles on their faces.

"I'm Bexley Grace." A pretty girl with a golden streek going through her black hair smiles at me, a defined dimple forming on her left cheek.

"Ok, goodbye now, Tivelly." Maria, my care worker, says before giving us a wave and walking back to her car.

I watch with longing eyes as she slams her car door shut, driving away immediately. I know she was tired of having me in the system; she's just happy she doesn't have to deal with me anymore.

"Damnit!" Mary screeches, slamming her foot on the ground in anger. I jump at her outburst, backing away from her.

"What is it?" Presley asks, annoyed with his wife's outburst.

"I forgot to get Phoebe her bipolar pills."

"Bipolar pills...? Like daily gummy vitamins?" I whisper to Able. "Like pills that make her not mad." He responds, whispering back.