Full of Life [Coming August 2016!!!]

Prologue

I didn't always know I was different. My family was never one to follow the old customs. At least I don't think they did. I hardly remember them. But Adelmo says that usually, your family tells you at a young age, so if they did I wouldn't know.

My only memories are quick snapshots my brain remembers; the chaos my family always brought, my mother singing.
Any memory I have of her, is her voice. No face, not smell of the perfume she wore, nothing.

But that's not the point. The point is I was locked away ever since the fire. At the age of four, I was placed in a straitjacket. Age seven, I was moved to foster care. Eight families took me in the span of four years, not being told of what I was. Sorry am. Eight families brought me back wrapped in chains, jumping rope, or anything they could use to contain me. Not that I would resist. The first two or three times I went ballistic, not knowing what I did wrong and begging to not be taken back. But after the fourth time of being sent back, rejected by the 'family' and receiving evil flares from the other kids, I was told why.

I "was different" as they said . I can still remember the look of fear in their eyes. The terrorized fear that I might implode any second and set the place on fire. Being only twelve at the time they told me to "conceal, don't feel, don't let it show." But no amount of Frozen quotes could help me. I didn't like that movie anyway.

I was a freak.

But at the age of thirteen, knowing what I was, someone took me in. I'll never forget that day. Me. Adelmo came and just sat beside me at the solitary lunch table. I remember it like it was yesterday.

.  .  .

"Hello." I looked up at the man. I remember thinking he was funny looking. He had a waist coat with a black trench coat and trousers, making him loo king older than he really was. He had a bushy mustache that curled above his lips decorating his face that had kind brown eyes that rested below his thick eyebrows. His dark hair was pulled back in a man bun streaked with only a few lines of silver.

"Hi," I replied softly, just being returned for the eighth time.

"May I sit here?"

Looking around I realized people were staring and was about to decline his polite offer when he asked me another question.

"What's wrong?" His voice was soft, laced with genuine concern.

I began to fidget under everyone's intense glares.

"People are staring."

His straitened his posture and quickly glanced around, not caring if everyone saw him, "Well then let hem stare."

He pulled out a chair and I returned the smile that never faltered from his mouth.

"What's your name?"

"Alesea."

"That's a beautiful name. Do you know what it means?"

I shook my head and he takes out a pair of glasses, cleaning them with a cloth before setting them on the bridge of his nose, "It means 'full of life',"

At the time I mentally scoffed at the irony since I had no life left in me at the time, so instead I asked him the same question.

"I'm Mr. Adelmo."

"Are you a new teacher here?"

"I don't work here. I'm here to find a special little girl."

"Oh," I replied disappointed, "Well then you might not want to sit by me."

He folded his hands on the table, "And why is that?"

I messed win my fingers under the table, "Because I'm a freak."

He didn't say anything at first, "Well then you're in luck. Because I happen to be a freak as well."

I looked up at him, ready to tell him that he doesn't understand. But he he had already taken my warm hands and covered them with his cold ones.  I watched as a small flutter of light escaped from the cracks of our hands, and stared in amazement as he let go and inside layer a baby turtle.

I smiled until my cheeks hit my eyes and watched as the little amphibian crawled across my hand.

"See? There's nothing wrong with being a freak."

I laughed lightly as the turtle tried to climb up on my arm.

"What if I told you. That you weren't the only freak out there?"

That was when Mr. Adelmo took me in. Along with five other freaks, just like me.