PARKER | Dark H.S. AU

liii. so what now

Copyright © zylgnagnaba 2014

The halls are as neat and winding as she remembers; polished hardwood floors, colorful walls, kids' drawing plastered on them -- organised in a messy, yet artful way. Across the wall of various rooms are the glass windows, cushioned seats are pushed under the frame, rain pelting on the sliding glass lids. Overlooking the window is the vast lush green lawn of the home, the small playground provided for the little kids occupying a small portion of the lot, damp from the downpour now and then. The long paved pathway down leading to the heavy iron gates is adorned with beautiful flower beds on both sides. Vibrant sunflowers, daffodils and marigolds wet from small water droplets, trickling down to their stems and eventually, to the moist soil.

Charlie smiles to herself, breathing in the fresh winter air, imagining her hands running through the soft petals of the beautiful flowers and gathering the cool vapor around her fingers. This is the place that served as her home for years. She witnessed her old friends left with their new adoptive parents, sad smiles on their faces as they looked back from their seats in the car and waved goodbye to the ones they left behind. She watched new abandoned kids came and went. She always thought no matter where they will be taken away, the bonds they built will always be tied in tight knots. All the kids around here have treated one another as family, although there's a lingering hope deep within them to have a regular one...with two parents in a typical home in a peaceful neighborhood. It was different for Charlie. She stayed until she was eighteen, refusing several prospected parents who wanted to adopt her. She wanted to help keep the home, help Martha. There was always something about the home that makes her feel fulfilled and accepted, around a number of warm, grateful faces.

She missed this place so much she couldn't believe she's back, although it's only temporary.

She's found a new apartment downtown, near the facility of her modelling agency. It isn't as dingy as her old one, but not as homy. She's reluctant about pursuing to rent it, though, thinking she'd go look around somewhere near Spellborough. The small town always has a special place in her heart.

"Charlie?" Martha's voice play behind her, pulling her attention out of the wistful reminders.

Her hands unlatch from the window sill to join the small woman, falling into steps with her as they walk the corridors. They were just through loading her stuffs down at the basement and Martha suggested to tour the blonde around the building, stoked for her to discover the changes at some parts of the home.

Charlie smiles at the melodious laughter of kids from around the hallway, soft echoes like a music to her ears, triggering some nostalgic feeling down to her core. She used to be one of those kids.

"Some things never change." She whispers perceptively, sighing at the thought as her arm goes around Martha's shoulder, her other hand clasped on the ball of the woman's other shoulder, leaning the side of her body to Martha's as they walk idly.

"You don't say, Charlie. You, of all people, should understand." Martha nods towards the end of the hallway, refering to the endearing noise of kids giggling with one another. "You sometimes laughed so hard, it could be heard in the entire home."

"Just what I thought, actually." They both chuckle.

"Oh, you were always so loud. Talked so fast...always have things to say. That head of yours was always full of imagination. I remember you talking about tooth fairy, easter bunny and Santa Claus being a team, watching over kids as they slept."

Charlie's laughter reverberates around the halls, throwing her head back as she recalls the many nights she woke up in the middle of the night, inspecting the large room she shared with eleven other kids. Now that she thinks about it, she feels silly and stupid.