A Sense of Longing

A visit

Despite it being 11 in the morning, there was no sun to be seen by any window.

It's only a coincidence that today of all days was the day orphans get adopted. 

And only one of sixteen orphans still had no clue to if he even wanted to get adopted. 

All sixteen orphans slept in the renovated attic of the orphanage, with a small circular window shedding some light.

The six-year-old sat on his little bed, with his legs crossed. 

"This... This is very selfish..." He thought aloud to himself. 

"I... I want to get adopted... But I don't wanna leave Miriam here..." 

He knew Miriam was just there for her job, but he liked to think she cared for him a lot. 

Maybe it was just him wanting a family?

There was a creak coming from the stairs and the boy quickly shut his mouth. 

Peaking from the stair case was his caretaker, Miriam Brown. 

"Morro, please come down and eat..." She begs him softly. 

When he couldn't think of an excuse, he does what she says and sadly walked down the stairs.

***

The long dining table the orphanage had always had children and adults alike making noise.

And it wasn't like anyone was gonna stop them. But Morro had been sad and preferred silence. 

"Morro," Miriam called from her seat next to his, "you haven't touched your food." 

 Morro picked up his fork and impaled a broccoli but didn't even eat it.

"I've touched it," he mumbled, thoughts still lingering in his brain.

Then, Miriam frowned and realized what day it was. The six-year-old was only ever sad on adoption days.

She stood up and poked the six-year-old orphan on the shoulder.

The orphan got out of his seat and looked at Miriam with sad eyes.

She offered her hand, which he accepted and pulled him towards a peg board hanging on the wall. On the board had all the orphans names written down and boxes under said names for the name of the family that was to take them home.

A soft gasp escaped Morro's lips. 

A family to come visit Morro was too rare. Far too rare.

Miriam sat down to match the orphan's height and put a hand on his shoulder.

"No matter what they chose to do... You'll always have a home here with us."

The orphan couldn't contain his happiness and trapped his caretaker in a hug.

Sure, he would have preferred her say "a home here with me,"  but that was more than enough!

***

The silence in the interview room could've shut up the loudest orphan in their orphanage. 

So, it certainly shut Morro's tiny lips up.

But after two and a half minutes of waiting, Morro started to panic. 

Did they cancel on me?

Did they think I wasn't suitable?

Morro's mind raced and his heart beat like a drum.

To calm him down, Miriam put a hand in her pocket and pulled out a caramel candy.

Sometimes the little orphan still wouldn't stop panicking after she gave him words of reassurance. And thus, candy was usually the solution.

Morro looked at the candy hesitantly before taking it from her hand.

The six-year-old munched the candy in silence.

If it weren't for Miriam, he would have given up all hope for this family to pick him out.

A shadow appeared behind the door's covered window and basically smashed the door open.

The orphan stiffened and his caretaker rose her eyebrow as a sign for them to state their business. 

"Miriam, the family just cancelled," the woman, known as Carol Schmitt, told her fellow caretaker with a disappointed look. 

Miriam sighed and turned to Morro, who was looking at her with big, sad eyes.

It was hard resisting the urge to cry for the little orphan.

***

After some dinner, the six-year-old climbed up the stairs for bed. (After  some convincing from Miriam)

He sat up on his bed, hands hugging his legs, as he watched the moon.

Thoughts lingered in his head about the family cancelling on him.

Then, an idea popped into Morro's head.

This seems like a good time.

He reached under his pillow and pulled out a crumpled paper.

The note they left him. The note his parents left for him. 

Just to make sure he remembered he was loved, even if they weren't there.

It wrote, 

"Our precious Morro, 

don't ever be any inch sad,

for we are happy,

There is a stabbing sensation in me, 

that we won't be with you,

But know, 

that we'll always be in your heart, deep within,

You are our most important invention, our baby,

For once you forget, 

you may reread again,

Love Mummy and Daddy."

The orphan has always felt sad, that he has forgotten what they look like and what they sound like. Maybe they could've added a picture too...

He wiped the tears forming in his eyes and decided it was time to sleep.

So he pushed away the need to see them and lifted his pillow to slip the note back under. 

Then grabbed his blanket and pulled it over himself. 

Goodnight Mummy and Daddy...

See you tomorrow night.....