The Bitter Truth

Chapter 5 ~ What's the plan?

Jaime's heart raced as she peered into the rearview mirror, spotting Ronny sprinting towards her car with urgency. A cloud of dust billowed behind her as she slammed on the brakes, skidding to a stop.

Rolling down the window, she called out to him, her voice tinged with concern, "What?! What's wrong?!"

Ronny dashed to the passenger side, desperately trying to open the door. With a frantic push of a button, she unlocked it, and he quickly hopped into the seat, hurriedly fastening his seatbelt.

"Take me back," Ronny pleaded, his desperation evident in his voice and demeanor.

"Why?" Jaime challenged, her expression turning severe as she searched for answers in his eyes.

"I can't leave her. It just hit me. Please, take me back," he implored, catching his breath between each word.

Jaime's concern was palpable as conflicting emotions swirled within her. "Ronny, how are you going to take care of a kid?" she questioned, the weight of her words heavy in the air.

"I'll figure it out!" he insisted.

"Ronny," Jaime began, only to be interrupted by his impassioned plea.

"—Look, Jaime! My Papa abandoned me!... Somethin' weird happened to my mama... She's all I got now... I can't do the same they did to me... Mama wouldn't like that..."

Jaime's heart ached as she grappled with the gravity of the situation. Despite her reservations, she knew she couldn't stop him, only delay the inevitable. Furthermore, she knew that it was safer for the child if she drove them back.

With a sense of unease lingering in her mind, she shifted the car back into drive, hoping that she could reason with him during the journey.

That plan fell short as the drive was speechless. Every time Jaime looked over to him, she saw in his eyes his mind was on overdrive. Maybe she didn't need to say anything to convince him; his own common sense would kick in soon.

As they arrived at the orphanage located on the outskirts of the town, they found it encircled by a high fence topped with sharp edges to deter anyone from scaling over. The sprawling yard appeared desolate, devoid of any play equipment or the sounds of children at play.

As Jaime and Ronny approached the guard stationed at the gate, Jaime politely requested entry, while Ronny's attention was immediately drawn to the gate's sorry state of disrepair. It appeared to be pieced together with worn wires, struggling to hold firm against the elements. The guard, seemingly unfazed, unlocked it with a rusty key.

The guard then put his weight into dragging it across the gritty, uneven ground, sending up small plumes of dust. It groaned and protested every inch of the way, seemingly holding on to the secrets it guarded.

It was then that Ronny finally spoke up, unable to contain his thoughts any longer. "That's a sorry excuse for a gate," he remarked, his voice filled with incredulity.

Jaime couldn't help but offer an explanation, "Your sister ran into it with the milk van this morning," causing Ronny's eyes to widen in surprise at the unexpected revelation.

As she approached the building, she parked the car and left the engine running. Ronny unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to look at her, but she remained seated without moving.

"Ya, comin' in?" Ronny asked.

"No," Jaime replied, shaking her head. "I'll wait for you."

With a nervous gulp, Ronny opened the car door and stepped out onto the grass. As he closed the door, he made his way up the stone steps, taking in the chaotic scene unfolding behind the door as he got closer. The sounds of crying babies, squealing toddlers, and the sound of running feet filled the air, growing louder with each step he took.