How the Night Hides Scars

Chapter 1|The move

CW: mentions of depression, Racism

I picked up my backpack and took one last look around my now-empty bedroom. I had lived in this house with my foster family ever since I was 15. Now the bedroom that was once covered in posters and paintings was bare without anything other than the ceiling fan and empty closet. If things had worked out how I planned this would've been the happiest day of my life unfortunately that's not how things happened.

I planned to go to River Valley University, my dream school, to become a lawyer. I was supposed to live in the dorms and eventually a tiny apartment in the city nearby. However, after my older brother, Akari, had disappeared I became depressed and spent most nights wandering the streets of the poor little suburb I lived in. One night when I was 17 I stayed out past the curfew set for minors and was brought to the police station where my parents picked me up. River Valley University considered this a run-in with the law and I had my application rejected. I cried for days on end and refused to leave my room. That was when I was around 19 now I'm 21 and still living with my foster parents Patel, a stay-at-home father who had a part-time job as an over-the-phone salesperson, and Sakura, who had a full-time job as a waitress at some upscale restaurant.

Somehow they both made enough to have a small crappy house in the bad part of the suburbs and support their son, my 10-year-old foster brother Takumi. Then for some reason, after the case with my old abusive foster mother went viral, they decided to foster me. It wasn't a bad life, it was better than the one where I was constantly being beaten and told I was the devil for being mixed race but I still wanted better. So when I got rejected from River Valley, and every other college I applied to it broke me. I was a mess until one day, Pastel came home with good news. Somehow he had convinced the bank to give him a loan to buy a bigger house in Lake Kreta, a pleasant town not too far from the city. That was a month ago and today we're finally moving. The small tap on my shoulder broke me from my thoughts.

I turned around to see Takumi carrying his small backpack and his stuffed koala, patchwork, in his arms.

"Mom says to hurry up because we have to get to the house by five, I can't wait to get a bigger bedroom," he said excitedly.

I let out a light chuckle "We both know I'm getting the biggest one. I'm the oldest" I said teasingly.

Before he could respond another voice interrupted our conversation"Come on you two, our new house is waiting, it's all set up for us"  Sukara called from downstairs.

"Race you to the car," Takumi said running downstairs.

I followed after him closing the door to my room and having a slight pause at the front door. I didn't feel quite ready to leave. This had been the best home Id had since my biological parents passed when I was five. I had so many good memories I wasn't sure I was ready for a new place.

"Jade" I heard a voice behind me say.

I turned around to see Pastel who had a sympathetic look on his face.

"Hi Dad," I said trying to hold back tears.

"Come here sweetheart," he said pulling me into a hug. "Everything going to be okay. I promise"

"You can't promise that dad," I said starting to cry.

"Oh, sweetheart don't cry" he started to hug me tighter gently rubbing my back. "Besides I thought that I could look into getting you therapy and I just got off the phone with my friend who just happens to be the dean at Mapple Ridge University and he said that he would love to have you at his school. I know it's not River Valley but I think it would be good for you."

I looked at him "Are you serious? That's Amazing Dad! Thank you!" I hugged him and ran out to the car. Hopping in the car excited to start a new life.