Adopted by Liz Olsen

Why are you here alone?

Janurary of 2020

I push past the crowd of people with cameras, trying to not get squished between them because of how small I am and make my way into the store, I have no idea why there here because this isn't a popular store, I grab a basket and get whatever was on the list.

Some bread, milk, basic necessities and as usual Dad wrote at the bottom of the lists to get beer and cigarettes which I obviously couldn't get because I'm 10... but anyways I'm looking for corn, I see it at the top of a shelf but can't reach it.

I look over to a woman that's across the isle looking at some baked beans, "excuse me, can you get that for me, please?" I ask kindly pointing to the can of corn.

"Of course sweetheart." She says kindly then grabs it down for me.

She looks at me confused for a bit, almost examining me.

"Where are your parents hon?" She asks crouching down to my height.

"At home." I respond, which I doubt is the truth. They're rarely home.

"Why are you here alone" she asks and before I respond I see her eyes travel down to my hand, my bruised hand, I scoot my hand back into my sleeve more, away from sight.

She looks back up with another look I can't quite figure out, "do you need help with anything else sweetheart?" She asks me with a look as if she were begging me to tell her something.

"No im done with everything now." I say and begin walking to checkout.

I set up my basket and the cashier is scanning all my items, the same woman behind me in line.

"23.05" the cashier announces to me, I hand them my 20 dollar bill mom gave to me, "I only have 20.." I Mutter.

"It's okay, here." The woman behind me hands the cashier 25 dollars and the cashier hands me back my 20.

"Oh.. thank you ma'am." I say to the kind woman.

"Elizabeth, most call me Liz or Lizzie though." Lizzie says, I smile at her. "I'm Arizona!" I say with a large smile on my face. She smiles a bit larger.

I grab my bags and walk out being blinded by camera flashes as Lizzie walks out behind me, as I push through the crowd of cameras I rub my eyes that now are only seeing spots.

They seemed to be taking a lot more pictures when we left...and they were yelling "elizebeth look over here!" "Elizabeth is it true that you had surgery done?!" Etc, etc. And yes I may not be Einstein but I'm not stupid either, so I'm guessing she has some type of public job gaining her popularity.

I start walking on the sidewalk next to the store on my way back home, Lizzie runs over to me.

"Is someone picking you up sweetie?" She asks, "no, I'm just walking home, it's not far." She looks at me wondering what to say.

"It's almost dark, and it's freezing, why don't I drive you home, it's not the safest when your out late at night alone." She says, I contemplate..

"My feet do hurt.. I guess so." I say finally deciding.

We walk to her car that's being bombarded by the same people with cameras, I get into the passenger seat and she starts to drive, well try's people keep throwing themself in front of the car.