Journey of the Mind

Nikki

Pam must be one of the most unusual people I have ever encountered. The first time I see her she acts all mysterious. Second time I see her she tricks me to be kidnapped, and the third she sides with the enemy but keeps to herself. Last time I saw her, she dares to betray who she works for and frees me. Though I have no idea why I had to be blindfolded the whole time. There is a large amount of confusion and respect for her.

When she showed me out, she left me her phone number and told me to call her soon. As weird as that sounded, I agreed to her terms. It was the least I could do to repay my respects to her. She also said to call her the next day so we can meet up somewhere. Pam is a kind and strange woman, who makes me feel guilty. I wanted to blame her for helping them keep me there. In what seemed what could have been the rest of my life. When I was lying there, giving her a begging look for help, I didn't expect her to actually help. She is tall, but very slim. Someone I thought was too afraid to take risks.

Walking back to the orphanage, I notice that no one has realized I have gone missing. I guess that is the life of an orphan. All of us have grown up here when we were just babies or toddlers. Everyone here wanted to get adopted, and finally have a family. I for one do not want a family. I already have one. Somewhere... It only took a minute for me to remember that I was standing in the middle of the room, dumbfounding. Turning around to go straight up to my room, I see Kelly smiling and energetic as always. "Hi Nikki!"

Kelly is the only friend I have here in the orphanage. When we first met each other, we were only 6. We were fighting on who would be going to the bathroom first and soon we were pulling each other's hair and yelling out names. What we didn't know is that while we were fight, we accidentally already went to the bathroom and we cried in each other's arms. Ever since we became friends, but swore to never speak of it again. Kelly is 5'5", so only 2 inches taller than me. 5 inches taller than me when she wears heels. Her red hair is as fire lit as ever, and her hazel eyes shining like always.

"Hi Kelly, what are you happy about this time?"

"Today is the day Nikki! I just know it is. Today I will get adopted. I just know it!" She yells.

Kelly has always had hope about getting a family. Even when so many adults have turned her down, she still had hope. "Kelly, I know this is rude of me, but we have been here for 16 years. Why would anyone want to adopt a 16 year old teen? Adults mainly adopt the children and babies." I look at her and she pulls me towards our room. Our beds still made, and the wallpaper has changed to light purple the fits the theme of our room. Both our desks separated so that we don't confuse which is ours. The closet crowded with the clothes that we share. She locks the door and turns around to look at me.

"Why can't you have hope? I know you don't want to get adopted, but wouldn't it be nice to have homemade cookies? To have a mother to hold you after breakups, tough school days, mother daughter talk? And a dad to beat the crap out of every loser guy?" Kelly laughs and shakes her head at the thought. "I am just saying, it would be great. We might even get adopted by the same family!"

"Kelly, we already have homemade cookies. And those people are strangers. What if they lied about their life and are actually bad people? The only families we can trust are the ones that gave us life, and the family that our future husbands have."

"Nikki, in case you have forgotten, our parents abandoned us. I don't know why, but they never came back to at least see how we are doing. Doesn't that at least urge you to find a new one?"

"Kelly... I hope you are right about today. You deserve it more than anyone here."

Kelly freezes at my response. She stares for a minute or two. We both stand there probably thinking the same thing. Why can't I open myself to the idea? She swipes her hair out of her face, and smiles. Coming towards me and giving me a hug. "What has happened to you the past 2 days you were gone?"