Adopted by Falsettos

Chapter 45

Three Years Later

"Happy first day of high school!" Stephanie said, coming into my room. "Rise and shine!"

"Morning, Mama." I said. Stephanie gasped and ran to hug me.

"You haven't called me 'Mama' in years." Stephanie said.

"Well, you'll always be my mama." I said, smiling. I ran a hand through my short blonde hair, I had cut it off and dyed it when I was about twelve and didn't want to dye it back to my natural color for a while.

"I'm still getting used to seeing you as a blonde. It still feels like you're that nine year old I took in off the streets. Now you're a high schooler."

I got out of bed, standing on my tiptoes so I was about a half inch taller than Stephanie. "Well, I'm certainly not as short as I used to be!" Stephanie laughed and hugged me.

"Now, come on. Your breakfast is downstairs, you have dance tonight, right?" I nodded and said, "I still can't believe I'll have a solo in the recital this year."

"I can't believe it either. You worked so hard over the past couple of years." Stephanie said. I nodded and I felt happy tears come to my eyes.

"Mama?" I asked. Stephanie looked at me and I said, "Thank you. Thank you so much."

"For what, baby?"

"For giving me a home. A family. I've never really had a family. Samantha's...all I've really known. I mean, I was only nine months old when my dad died and I was a year old when my mom gave me and Katrina away. And I've sorta been emotionally abused and manipulated my entire life, I really haven't known any other life. That was until...you took me in. I finally found out what having a family should feel like, instead of having to raise myself. You could've just left me on the streets or turned me in to Child Services, but you didn't. And I'm forever grateful for you for doing that. I love you..." I said, which was all I could manage before bursting into tears and running into my mama's arms.

"I love you." Stephanie said, kissing my head. She looked at the clock and said, "I have to go take a shower, I have to drop you off at school."

I nodded and my eyes darted to a photo of me and my family right after the performance of Falsettos my friends and I did about three years ago.

"I love my tight-knit family." I said, holding the picture to my chest with tears in my eyes.

The End

AN: Hey guys, so Josie's story is over. I can't believe it. This was one of those stories I thought I would never finish. Thanks to all of you for reading, I cannot thank you enough. For the final time, hope you enjoyed, and see you in Adopted by Superstore. Love you all!