I remember the day I was dropped off. I was five. It was sunny and warm. A perfect day.... For most normal kids. Most kids were playing outside while I drove by in the tinted widowed black Chevy Impala. My daddy was rich. Very rich. Yet he still couldn't take care of me with mom gone. We drove right up to a brick building. My daddy gets out of the car and opens my door. I noticed his eyes were red and blotchy. He was crying. I hop out, confused why I was here and why my tough daddy was crying. My daddy walks me up to the door of the building and turns to me and says
"Sweetie, You are going to live here, okay?"
Still confused I question him like most toddlers do
"But- but why daddy? I wanna stay with you,"
"Sweetie," he says "I want to stay with you too. It breaks my heart to leave you here. But.." He cuts himself off with a sob and tears roll down his face. I'm
"It will be the best thing I can do for you, hon."
"Daddy, I-" then I start crying. My dad wraps me up in the tightest, most love-showing hug I've ever had and I give him one too. Then He gets up and rings the doorbell. We stare at each other until a lady with a purple and blue robe on shows up.
"Hi! You must be Mr. Evans!" She says in a perky voice.
"Yes ma'am, and this is my little Zoe. She's five and she's going to be living with you for now."
"Yea! Of course! That's what orphana- er... Uh.... I mean.....-" before the lady can finish her sentence a girl pops out behind her. She has olive skin and has a blue shirt with a pink skirt on and a white headband holding back her huge frizzy dark hair. The lady doesn't notice her yet and keeps talking to my daddy as the girl and I stare at each other.
"So, Zoe, are you ready to make some friends? I'm Liana. Your care taker or guardian." The lady says. I smile in response.
"Come! Come inside honey! Thank you Mr. Evans! I'll take good care of her!" And Liana disappears into the huge building along with the girl. I turn to see my daddy right behind me.
"Zoe, it's time for Daddy to go now. Here's your suitcase with a picture of you, me and mom in it and all your other things you had from home. Now you be a good girl here, okay? And whenever you need me, I'll always right here," he puts his hand where my heart is,
"And I'll be here, daddy!" I say pointing to his heart.
"Yes, Zo, you'll always be with me. I love you so much. I'm sorry this had to happen."
"Love you too, Daddy," I say and we hug for what seems like a million years. Then he releases me, winks and waves. Then he turns and walks back to his car. I turn away and just before I walk inside the building, I yell
"Daddy!"
"Yes, Zoe, sweetie?" Then I say the best thing a five year old could say at that moment,
"I'll visit you!" He laughs and wipes away his tears and drives away. I walk into the building then. This is where my life begins.
YOU ARE READING
Life
General FictionWhen ten year old, Zoe, tells her orphanage story, will her life ever change? Read to find out.