Home Hunting

Chapter 7: Thank You

Evelyn's POV:

It has been a few weeks since Dr. Montgomery caught me in the on-call room, and I've been back at the shelter ever since. Well, other than the nights that I actually have been on call. I haven't been willing to risk being caught again. I honestly don't know how I would've reacted if anyone but her walked in on me.

Being at the shelter has definitely made it harder for me to sleep, but it hasn't been all terrible. I actually met an 18 year old senior in highschool who reminds me a lot of myself when I first aged out of foster care. Her name is Jen, and she's currently in the midst of applying to almost every college in the state of Washington. We actually had a long conversation about it last night.

***

"Hey Evelyn," Jen said. "Can you read over my essay? I'm almost done with my applications, but this is the only part that I'm really unsure of. Just promise not to laugh at it."

"Jenny, of course I'll read it and of course I won't laugh," I said, walking over to her bed and taking her computer.

"You promised not to call me Jenny," she smiled.

"No, I promised not to call you Jenny in public. Anytime we're in here the name's fair game."

"Whatever," she laughed as I began to read.

<< When most people look in the mirror, they see an image of themselves. I have never seen an image of myself. Sometimes, I have seen someone weak, someone unrecognizable, or just no one at all. But now, when I look in the mirror, I see an older version of myself– someone with her dreams in reach; I see someone compassionate and strong, but also someone who has the same past as me. Her name is Evelyn. >>

"Jenny," I blushed. "You didn't tell me you were going to write about me."

"Just read it," she smiled. "I'm serious, I need help with it and don't laugh."

"You say that as you're the one laughing," I smiled. "And I could never laugh at this. I'm honored."

I continued to read her essay, admiring the stories she bravely and eloquently told. I fought back tears as her essay once again surfaced back to me. I thought about how different things may have been if we grew up together, or if I had grown up with someone to look up to the way I now realized she looked up to me.

"It's beautiful, Jen." I said, finishing the last sentence. "I think it's perfect."

"Are you sure?" She asked.

"Positive," I replied, definitively. "I want you to know that I see you like a sister. Even when, and yes I said when, we make it out of here, you'll always be family to me. I am wondering, though, what do you see for yourself in the future?"

"I'm honestly not 100% sure. I've always wanted to be an environmental scientist, or an author, or something. But you're a freaking doctor. You made it. And I don't know how you did it. And sometimes I don't know if I'll ever be able to figure it out."

"Honestly, Jen, I don't have it all figured out. You just have to keep your goals in view and take things one day at a time. You're strong and you're smart. You just have to believe in yourself," I replied.

I want her to have the world. I want to see her reach her dreams.

"Thank you," she smiled sincerely.

"Of course," I smiled. "I love you, Jenny."

***

As I sat on my bed lost in my thoughts, I looked to my right and stared at the outfit I had laid out for tonight. While it was technically a week before Thanksgiving, we were celebrating it tonight at Meredith's house.