Adopted by Lauren Cohan

Chapter 1: The Best Day of My Life

It was a normal day in Smithson's Orphanage. I woke up in the room with the other girls my age, changed into my only set of clothes, and headed to the mess hall for breakfast. I was an early riser, so there weren't many people eating. As I walked up to get my breakfast, which were smelly eggs and burnt bacon, like always, I felt like today was special. Everything seemed better for some reason. The sun was already out, even though it was only 6 AM. I ate my food and headed outside for a quick workout.

When I finished my cardio, I jogged upstairs for a shower. The other girls were getting up, it was around 7:30. I ran to the showers so that I could take a hot shower before the other girls used the water up. I took my shower and saw my only friend, Stacy.

"Wow, you're actually up at this time," I said, "Usually, you don't wake up until 11 or so."

"I know, right!" she said, very surprised,"I just felt like today was going to be really special, so I HAD to wake up."

"Weird, I had the same feeling," I said, "Everything seems better."

She walked downstairs for breakfast and I stayed in our room, writing. I had kept a journal since I had first come to the orphanage, after I lost my parents, 8 years ago, and I planned to keep it until I got out of here. It was a Saturday, so I had more time to write since we didn't have school. I wrote until the rest of the girls came up from breakfast because we all had to clean.

Our room was pretty full, there were 18 girls all crammed into a room with twin sized beds. The walls were gray, and the carpet was very dingy, it used to be white. Each bed had a gray sheet, and we all had a blanket, pillow, or stuffed animal that was from our birth parents, as long as they cared enough to give them something. Me, I had nothing left. My parents weren't supposed to give me up, it just happened that way.

All the girls raced up the stairs because we had to finish cleaning our room before we could do whatever we wanted. Everyone went to their beds and got to work. Stacy's bed was next to mine, so we could talk while we cleaned.

"You missed out, Sabrina. The headmistress was screaming at an employee because her donuts were 'too chocolatey' and the employee gave them to us!" Stacy called as she entered our part of the room.

"Really? You guys are so lucky!" I said, even though I didn't really care.

"Maybe that's what our special feeling was, even though you missed it." Stacy said, "Hopefully something good will happen to you too!"

Stacy was pretty annoying, but I put up with her because she was my only friend.

"Yeah," I said, faking a smile, "I hope so."

We started to clean as the other girls were talking. About 10 minutes in, the small phone started to ring. The phone couldn't call out of the orphanage, it was only to page others inside. Usually, this meant that we were in trouble.

"All of you, down to the office! Now!" the headmistress yelled.

We all sped downstairs, for the headmistress beats the last one downstairs. I was next to last in line, when I was pushed. Whoever was behind me didn't want that beating, and I went flying forward. She ran across the room and left me behind. I was okay, just angry that someone would push me out of the way. I didn't want the beating either!

I ran back to the headmistress' office and she looked at me with a disapproving look.

"You were last. That is unacceptable. Turn around now." she said, taking out her whip.

I hesitantly turned around and she started to whip me. As this was happening, the door opened. Everyone heard it except the headmistress.

"You. Should. Always. Be. First. Down. Here." she said with a slap in between each word.

The woman gasped. The headmistress turned around to see her. Instantly, she recognized her.

"You. You're from The Walking Dead!" the headmistress called.

As I turned around, I knew who she was. I watched The Walking Dead, and she had always been my favorite. Too bad she saw me getting beaten.

"Yes, I am, I was coming to talk about adoption, but now I see that I need to take action now!" she yelled.

"Oh, her? I wasn't beating her, I was... uh-"

"Don't try to lie to me, I saw everything. Anyways, I'd like to adopt a child. I want to talk to the one you were beating." she said with fire in her eyes.

"Uh, sure. Sabrina! Come over here!" she said.

I stepped towards the woman that I had watched for so long, and sat down.

"Hi, I'm Lauren. Lauren Cohan. Nice to meet you!"