For You // Adopted by 5sos

one

"Mommy, why are you packing my clothes?" small, confused five year old me asked.

I was perched on my tiny bed in my even tinier room, legs dangling off the side of my bed, swinging back and forth. Toys littered the floors, and I watched as my mother tucked a few of them into the suitcase with my clothes.

"You can't live with mommy and daddy anymore," my mom's voice shook as she tried to contain her emotions.

"Why?" I was confused, and I hugged my stuffed yellow bunny closer to my small body.

"Mommy and daddy don't have much money right now," she said as she zipped the suitcase closed after making sure everything was packed.

"Where am I going?"

"You're going to stay with Aunt Valerie."

Aunt Valerie was my favorite aunt. I had loved the cookies she'd always make for me, and she gave me the best toys. And she was the nicest person I'd ever met, besides my own mother.

"Yay!" I suddenly chirped. I couldn't wait to go to Aunt Val's house.

"Come on," mom helped me off the bed and with one hand holding mine and the other holding my suitcase she led me downstairs.

The stairs creaked under our weight, and halfway down I saw my aunt and her husband standing at the door, quietly talking with my dad. I never really liked Uncle Bill, but at the time I didn't really care about that.

The five of us walked outside and down to my Aunt's familiar van. Aunt Valerie put my suitcase into the backseat, while her husband talked to my parents.

"Aren't you excited to stay with Aunt Val, Alanna?" my mom squatted down so she was at my height. With her being so close to me I noticed the dark circles under her eyes and how tired she looked.

"Mommy are you okay?" I asked.

"Of course," she said, but I watched as a single tear ran down her cheek. "I'll see you soon, Alanna. Okay?"

"How soon?"

"Just a few months," she replied, reaching up to wipe her cheeks. "Mommy and daddy will work hard and get lots of money, then we'll get a big house and maybe even a dog."

"You have to be strong for me, Alanna," she continued. "Promise me you'll be strong no matter what happens."

I didn't know what that meant, but I didn't want her to be sad, so I said, "I promise."

She smiled and reached in her back pocket. Her hand was clasped, and when she opened it I peered down at the pretty necklace in her hand.

"Save it for when you're older," she handed it to me.

I looked down at my hand, examining the new gift. There were two small silver hearts connected together.

"Come on baby," Aunt Val said as she climbed into the passengers seat of the van.

My mom hugged me tight, and we stood there for a few seconds. Her hand was running through my hair as she held me close. I inhaled her scent one last time, before pulling away and running towards the car.

__________

Just a few months turned into years.

The door swung open, and in walked one of my energetic room mates.

"Whatcha drawing?" Abby flung herself down on my bed, nosily peering over my shoulder to look at the sketchbook in my lap.