Coming Home | Scarlett Johansson's Daughter |

MOVINGS

NEW YORK - MAY'S FOSTER HOME

Alina had been another person entirely when she had entered this room for the first time. She had been much younger. Her life had changed completely when she first arrived at May's. She was switched into a normal mundane foster home (she barely remembered it, as she was 6 when she joined it) into one with a cold single older woman, and a few passing kids that never really made an effort with Violet, but it had changed her life. No more surviving off 5% of what her foster parents saved up for them.

Explaining May was always strange. Yes, she gave Violet and all the kids in her care whatever they needed. This was quite obvious not only applied in educational stuff, as May paid for her dance classes and competition stuff. But May had never been a foster mom, she was just May. She may have paid for dance, but she had never asked how she was doing, or come to see her competitions. That had always been a lingering sense of emptiness in Violet's heart. She longed for the love and affection that her friends seemed to receive so effortlessly from their parents. She yearned for someone to ask about her day, to cheer her on at dance recitals, to share in her triumphs and failures.

Violet guessed that was what made this so easy, and so hard at the same time.

As she sat surrounded by her empty room, Violet couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. May had given her everything she needed and more, and yet she still found herself longing for something more. She wondered if it was selfish of her to want more, because she really had everything. Gosh, not every foster kid left phones, tablets and laptops behind when leaving a foster home.

May had said she could keep the phone, but she had woken up 2 days ago from a box from Ryan that contained a new phone, an iPad and a laptop, along with 2 types of ear buds and some snacks. The note had said this was all for her new room at Scarlett's, and some extra stuff for missed spoiling, and when Violet had called him close to tears to say thanks, he had straight up frowned when she said he didn't have to do that. So the phone stayed, ready for whatever new kid had the luck to stay here.

here was a soft knock on her door, pulling her out of her thoughts. She glanced up to see May standing in the doorway, her expression unreadable.

"Marissa's here to pick you up," May said simply, her voice neutral.

Violet nodded, pushing herself up from her bed. As she moved to leave, she and May found themselves locked in an awkward silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy in the air.

Feeling a surge of emotion welling up inside her, Violet took a step forward and enveloped May in a tight hug. It was a simple gesture, a wordless thank you for all that May had done for her during her time in foster care.

"Thank you, May," Violet whispered, her voice choked with emotion.

May hesitated for a moment before returning the hug, her arms wrapping around Violet in a tentative embrace. It was a rare moment of vulnerability between them, a fleeting glimpse of the connection that had always seemed just out of reach.

As they pulled away from each other, there was a softness in May's eyes, a hint of emotion that Violet had rarely seen before. She smiled softly at Violet. "You take care, okay?"

Violet nodded, and with one last lingering look, Violet turned and made her way out of the room. She only had a huge tote bag with her, as her clothes were taken this morning.

When she reached the front door, she paused for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves. She was excited for what lay ahead, but she couldn't deny the apprehension that gnawed at her stomach. Moving in with Scarlett was a dream come true, but it also meant leaving behind everything she had ever known. There was no coming back to her old room after interacting with one of her birth parents, she was now going to live with one.