Orphan

-Sean-

      I don't really remember the next few days. Everything kind of passed in a blur. My aunt and uncle had to get registered to adopt me or something, and until then I was being sent to an orphanage, basically, that was all the way across the country. I don't know why they didn't send me to a closer one, but either way I was devastated to be leaving my family and friends. Especially Bree. The day after we had received the letter, my aunt called my school to tell them that I would not be attending anymore. I went to school the next day for a half-day to say goodbye to my friends. I said goodbye to Bree last, taking her aside at lunch to tell her the awful news. I tried to take in everything I could about her; the way she walked, looked, talked, smiled, even the way she laughed. I tried to remember the way her brown hair swayed when she walked, how her soft, dark eyes would sparkle when she laughed. I tried to remember the happy things about all of my friends, but the images that were clearest in my mind were how their faces fell and their eyes went dull when we had to say goodbye.

      My phone had to be deactivated before I left, because for some reason the orphanage didn't allow phones. That means I really didn't have any way to contact my family and friends. I didn't bring much with me, just the necessities. I didn't want to be constantly reminded of the life I'd left behind.

~~~

      When the day finally arrived for my departure, my aunt and uncle and even Audrey woke up at 4:00 to take me to the train station. There had been much discussion of how I would get to my destination, and it had finally been decided that I would take the train. It was cheaper than an airline ticket, after all.
     
      We drove in silence, dawn just starting to lighten the sky. It was a heavy silence. Grief and anticipation hung in the air like clouds just before it rained. There were hardly any cars on the road, and we got to the train station in plenty of time. By the time I boarded the train and found my seat, it was almost time for it to depart from the station. I stared out the window at my family, crying on the platform. My aunt had checked and double-checked that I had everything, and I assured her both times that I did. I was hoping that I could at least send letters to them, so I promised to get in touch in whatever way I could. As the train pulled away, I saw Audrey turn away, pressing her face into my aunt's shoulder. My uncle raised his hand in the air, his eyes glistening but never leaving my window. A single tear slipped down my cheek as the train picked up speed, carrying me farther and farther away from the people I loved.

~~~

      I stared out the window, watching the lush green hills go past and listening to the endless chugging of the train. I'd been on the train for hours, with hardly anything to do. I could feel that I was getting close, though. I don't know how or why, but something told me that the train was going to stop soon.
     
      Sure enough, within about twenty minutes, the train suddenly pulled to a halt. I could hear the other passengers murmuring worriedly about a breakdown, but I was feeling surprisingly calm. I glanced out the window and saw a huge house sitting on top of a hill only a little ways away, bathed in evening light.

      "Sean Caldwell to the front of the train, please. Sean Caldwell, please come to the front of the train with your baggage," said a voice over the intercom. I could feel the other passengers' stares on my back as I grabbed my bags, wondering why I had been called to the front of the train. Slowly, I made my way up to the front, ignoring some of the passengers' worried glances.

      "You are to get off here, son. Your guardian left very specific instructions for us. We don't usually do this for just one passenger, but we're making an exception, okay, kid?" The conductor said to me in a low voice as I approached the front. I nodded, wondering for a moment why he had said guardian. Didn't my aunt and uncle set this all up?
  
      "Thank you, sir. But where exactly am I supposed to go?" I asked. The conductor shrugged.