Finding a Family

Fostered... Again

Miles sat in the back seat of the car, staring at the window with blank eyes, watching as the place he thought he would call one day home faded out of sight.

Maybe he just wasn’t meant to have a home. Nor a family to call his own. Maybe he was just destined to be alone forever…

“I can’t believe it, Miles!” The caretaker driving the car said, “Even freaks like you should be able to find a home after the fifth time! You haven’t even spent a full week in that house!”

Miles just ducked his head and looked down, forcing himself to not speak a peep. Everyone hated it when he did. It always got him kicked out… 

But then again, everything he did got him kicked out.

“Never in my life have I seen a kid go to five homes, FIVE HOMES, and get rejected within a month! Never!” The caretaker continued rambling, throwing Miles harsh glares every few minutes through the mirror. 

“What made you think touching those glass cups was a good idea? Why did you decide to just randomly touch them!? Have you never seen glass before?!” Miles winced, holding back his large explanation to why he accidentally broke the glass cup. “Why do you keep messing things up?! Can you just keep your hands to yourself? Why are you such a freak? Huh?! You don’t only look like a freak, but you HAVE to get attention! You HAD to break the glass cup to get them to look at you! You couldn’t stand the fact that you are a FREAK and that NO ONE wants to see you?!”

…

And that’s how the rest of the car road went…

The caretaker continued rambling about how bad Miles was, while Miles just sat there still, careful to not move, nor say a word. He pretended as though the words being spat at him didn’t hurt, because it shouldn’t! He deserved it! He should have been more careful washing the dishes! He deserves the harsh treatment! He can’t do anything right!

That didn’t stop the acting feeling in his heart though…

“Starting this Monday you will be going to a new school called Chaos High,” the headmaster of the orphanage said.

Miles nodded obediently, showing that he was paying attention.

“As you can tell, this new family has high expectations for you, so don’t blow it up. You should be lucky that you were offered a home this many times, don’t ruin it this time…” The headmaster said, before excusing Miles.

Miles headed back with new found hope. Despite the harsh words of the headmaster, he couldn't help but think of the bright side of the situation.

 Maybe this family will like him and adopt him! He can’t blow this up! He would do everything asked from him without questioning! Maybe Miles wouldn’t have to grow up alone, without anyone! 

(Deep down, he knew this wasn’t true… If the first five homes didn’t work out, why would the sixth work?)

Miles went to the small closet, which was deemed to be “his room” whenever he stayed at the orphanage. Pulling out his ripped backpack, Miles started placing the few things he owned in it. 

After packing (which only took 5 minutes), he sat in his closet and laid against the wall, thinking.

He can’t afford to lose this opportunity! He already lost five, he can’t lose a sixth! He can’t always go back and forth between foster homes! This might even be the last time he gets fostered! He won’t afford to lose this chance! He can’t!