All Of My Silences Will Be Your Words [English Vers. - FINISHED]

Chapter Two

Ever since she'd seen the brochure for the Little Angels orphanage, she couldn't stop thinking about it. Her two daughters and son were now all three grown up, and the family home was becoming emptier by the day. She'd always liked to help others, but she'd never thought of adopting an orphan. What if, through her gesture, she could make a life happy and fulfilled ? Even just one ?

She spoke to her husband and children about it. After much discussion, they all agreed to potentially welcome a new inhabitant into the family home.

The following month, the four of them went to the orphanage for Little Angels Day. Felix, her son, had sent them a message in the morning wishing them good luck, and making them promise to tell him all about it that evening.

And they were going to tell him plenty. When they got him on the phone, his mother was still reeling.

She'd been walking in the garden of the orphanage with her husband when they'd seen him. Surrounded by children much younger than her, all sitting in the fresh grass, she was dancing with them in the fallen leaves. They would take turns catching them in armfuls, sending them flying around them. Arms outstretched, she whirled around, her eyes lost in the winter sky. Why had the two adults' gazes latched onto her ? Neither of them had the answer. They had simply stopped in one motion, and watched her in silence.

Perhaps it was her pensive expression lost in the clouds, or the movement of her hair swirling in rhythm with the orange leaves in the wind. Perhaps it was.

When the door opened to reveal the girl who had hypnotized them, they both held their breath. Sae-Jin took a few discreet steps into the room, before closing the door behind her. Then, still in silence, she nodded slightly in their direction before taking a seat next to the headmistress. Everyone followed her with their eyes.

She was wearing a white blouse and the same flouncy burgundy-red skirt as at the Little Angels Day. Her fine brown hair was tied back in a shoulder-length ponytail. Her dark eyes were fixed on the family. They were watching her too, unable to say a word. Gauging each other's gaze, apprehensive and gently taming each other around a table.

A few minutes passed, and then the headmistress spoke.

- This is Sae-Jin. Little one, this is the Lee family. They already have two daughters and a son, and want to welcome you into their home. She introduced.

- Nice to meet you, said one of the girls, seeing that her parents were still silent. My name's Olivia.

- And I'm Rachael, said her sister, smiling at Sae-Jin.

The latter turned her gaze towards them. Olivia gave her an encouraging smile. She nodded again, but said nothing. Sensing the family's distress, Sae-Jin pursed her lips and stared at the table.

The headmistress coughed, seeing the family's discomfort and her little protégée's distress.

- This is what I was getting at earlier. Since Sae-Jin arrived at the orphanage, she's hardly spoken. Lately, we can't even hear her utter a word. That was the biggest problem for the families who wanted to adopt her before you. They couldn't communicate with her.

Sae-Jin looked up at the parents this time. They returned his gaze, surprised by his statement. It seemed to them that her gaze was empty and sad, as if she had already expected them to give up. This stirred their hearts, and forced them to react.

- We'll adapt, said the man.

- Yes, of course, said the woman. Just because Sae-Jin doesn't speak doesn't mean we can't communicate.

The director's relieved smile assured them that they had answered correctly. Olivia leaned a little closer to Sae-Jin, clearly curious and delighted by the challenge of her new sister's silence.

- You bet ! We could learn sign language, for example ! She exclaimed. Maybe you already know some words !

Sae-Jin watched Olivia without reacting at first, and the headmistress refrained from intervening. Her little protégée had to be able to fend for herself when she got to the Lees'. And she didn't regret her decision, nor did she hold back her smile when she finally saw Sae-Jin shake her head from side to side in the direction of Olivia to answer the latter's question. Sae-Jin made a sorry pout in the girl's direction, but she didn't seem fazed by his negative answer.

- You see ! She exclaimed instead. We can communicate !

- Don't shout, Liv', you're embarrassing, hissed her elder sister as she saw her sister squirming in her chair.

Olivia's gaze shifted from Sae-Jin to the headmistress, and she blushed as she realized she'd forgotten her presence.

- Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude, she mumbled, settling back in her chair.

- Quite the contrary, the headmistress replied happily, seeing Sae-Jin watching the two sisters with a hint of envy. I'm happy to see you so positive, it can only be good for Sae-Jin. At least, that's what I think ; what do you think, Sae-Jin ? She asked, turning to her little protégée.

Sae-Jin's gaze shifted from the Lee girls to the headmistress. She nodded slowly, as if realizing what this gesture meant : she had agreed to leave the orphanage and live a new life with the Lee family.