White Lies

Graham Windham

My home.

The home of so many wonderful children. Being raised to be healthy and perfect. Everything is perfect. Everyone is perfect. That's how it's always been. Waking up from a perfect sleep. Eating a perfect breakfast. Playing outside with our perfect friends. With our perfect aunts. Though we aren't related, we are still there for each other. We always will be.

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Waking up to a cloudless blue sky, the ringing of bells and the smell of fresh clothes and food. Like always. Going for a quick shower and drying off in the sun. Walking into the dining room for a perfect meal. Eating until they were full. Going out to play into the woods. Careful as to not go too deep.

Lapis walked over to get her ball, looking up to see a meadow full of life. Deciding to explore it. Going back to get a basket, a book and gloves. Researching every little thing she sees knowing she won't have another opportunity like this. Wandering into the deep meadow searching for mushrooms and berries. Going to the part of the forest where the sun doesn't shine. Only darkness engulfing her sight.

Realization hits like a wave. Desperately wanting to go home. Sitting under a giant oak tree waiting for Marie or Ruby to come find her. With a basket full of mushrooms and berries she hides tearing up. The desire of being in a warm house full of smiles overwhelmed her. Letting her five year old mind get the best of her. Seeing eyes staring at her. Her sobs filled her ears as she cried out.

Everything is suddenly alive.

Watching her.

Waiting for her to put her guard down.

"Lapis!" A scream cuts through her sobs.

"Marie?" A tiny voice whimpers out. Searching for someone to reach out to.

"Lapis! Oh god, why are you way out here?! Did anything happen?!" So many strange things happened. But a tiny voice was yelling at Lapis.

"Don't answer! She'll hurt you! Shut up, are you crazy?! Stay quiet!" Unsure why, she listens to the voices and stays quiet. Only trembles and shakes her head no. Her face softens a bit and in one swift movement she is holding a basket filled to the brim with mushrooms and berries and in the other she is carrying a crying Lapis.

The voice sounded like her dearest friend, Annette.

That was years ago but Lapis never thinks about that. Only waiting patiently for the day she gets adopted.

If only she could have been left in the dark.

Thank you for reading! This is my own original book with my own original characters so I hope you liked it!