How to Save a Life (Wattys2016)

Chapter One

Two Years Later

"Nathan this is Eve." I looked at the orphanage, examining it as if it were a lab rat pinned down on a tray. It stood six stories above me, with windows lining the brick structure. Through the glass I could see groups of kids playing with dolls or reading books. In the right side yard was a large sign that said, "Safe Havens Orphanage". The neighborhood itself was spacious and had large oak trees scattered down the sides of the street. The air was cool and smelled of pine leaves.

"Eve?"

"Hm?" I hummed in response.

"Did you hear me?" Ms. Gray asked, "Nathan's going to be showing you around." My eyes traveled back to the boy standing in front of me. He was the same height as me, with floppy auburn hair and sapphire eyes.

"Hey." He greeted, his tone was nonchalant.

"How do you do?" I asked. He raised an eyebrow at my blank expression before taking me by the hand and guiding me inside the building.

The large double doors opened into a massive room lined with dark birch wood walls. The floor was made of white marble, giving the place a sophisticated but cold aura. Doors were randomly scattered on the walls of the first floor, each hiding a room with six bunk beds all lined up in rows. The sound of laughing kids echoed down the vast halls. A staircase ran against the farthest wall, trailing up to all six floors. I dodged out of the way as a group of kids sped by, chasing each other.

The amount of noise and space sent prickles up my spine, the building was a massive change from the cramped hospital dorm I had for the last two years. Nathan lead me up a flight of stairs, stopping so I could catch up. As he talked, I could sense him starring at me from the corner of his eye. Maybe he was bother by the scars running up and down my skin. When he at last finished showing me around, we stood in awkward silence. I didn't know what to say to this boy, and I hated making small talk.

"So how'd you end up here?" Nathan asked. I was relieved the silence was over, but there's no way I'm telling him about that car crash. When I stayed silent he said,

"Too afraid to relive it?" I kept my dull brown eyes trained on the ground and gave a single nod. He dug his hands into his pockets, "Just as I thought. That's usually the case with all the kids here. We're all afraid at first, but you'll get over it." He walked over to the wooden stairs and motioned for me to go sit down with him. I trailed after him and sat down on the rusty floor boards, listening intently.

"Are you still afraid?" I asked.

"Not really." He said leaning back, "I got over it a while ago. Besides, I'm not staying here for much longer, I'd have to get over it anyways."

"Why're you leaving?" The question caused his face to light up.

"I'm finally getting adopted!" My eyes widened, I clutched onto the rim of my white dress and stuttered,

"C-congratulations."

"Thanks, I'm leaving in a couple of weeks." Nathan patted my head as if I were a five year old. Well, I'm eight but that doesn't matter.

"Don't worry, you'll get adopted too. When you do lets meet up again. Lets be friends when we both have family's that care about us."