The Foster

part 1

My name is Camille. This thing you're reading here is like my diary, so have fun reading all my thoughts.

I walked in and sat down at the kitchen table. My current foster family was also sitting down, all ready for dinner.

There was little Abbey. The 7 year old girl was the cutest thing you've ever seen, thinks she a princess. She likes to comfort me when i'm sad.

Brooke, she was 13. The closest age foster sister to me i've ever had. It was nice having her around because she was a teen like me. We were both in high school and hung out pretty often. I helped her with her homework every night.

Then there's the parents. Mark and Lillian. Lillian is such a good mother, and tried to be as much of a mother to me as she can. She shows up to all my volleyball games, helps me with homework, boys, and anything else that I might need.

I've been with this family for a year and a half now, I counted them as my family. I loved them more than i've ever loved anyone. What's theirs was mine and what's mine was theirs.

"So, we need to have a somewhat serious dinner tonight." Mark said, passing around a plate with food for us to all fill our own.

"That's never good." Brooke said.

"Don't worry, nobody is in trouble. I just wanted to talk to Camille about our situation here. As you all know, the two year mark is coming up, and after two years, adoption is available." Lillian spoke.

Yes, yes, yes! They're going to ask me to move in with them! I've never been happier!

"So, we wanted to know..." Mark started.

"You guys want to adopt me? Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes!" I said excitedly.

"Oh, uhm, no not exactly. Maybe we should talk.... in private?" Lillian said.

Oh no. This can't be good. Oh no.

I got up and followed Lillian to her room. We both sat down on her bed and faced each other.

"I just wanted to tell you know before you got your hopes up. I love you, we all love you, but we can't afford to keep you here forever. We have our own kids to worry about. I'm sorry, but you can either leave now, or in a month when the two years are up." Lillian said quietly.

"What? I thought you loved me as your own. You told me that yourself. You guys are my family! I can get a job, buy my own things! Help with groceries! Anything, please! I don't have anyone else!" I cried.

"Camille, I don't want to make this any worse than it has to be. I think it would be best if you left as soon as possible..... less hurting for everyone if it's instant. Your caseworker will be here tomorrow morning. Please have your things packed." She said and stood up.

I looked her in the eyes, but she looked down. She wouldn't even look at me.

I can't believe this is happening.

I ran out of her room, down the hallway and into my room. I slammed the door and slumped down on my bed, grabbed the pillow and screamed into it.

I've been in the foster system since I was 11 years old. I've only had 4 other foster homes, none nearly as long as this one. This was my family, my family for gods sake! Once again, nobody wants Camille.

If they don't want me, I don't want them. I don't need them.

After a few minutes of letting myself break down, i got up and grabbed the single suitcase i kept under my bed. Just in case.

I started throwing my favorite clothes into it when someone opened my door.

"Sorry to be the one to tell you this, but you can only take one suitcase. The rest of the clothes we bought with our own money and need to sell." Mark said harshly and left, closing the door. I slammed my face down into my clothes. I can't even take my belongings.

I crawled up into my bed, not able to take any more. I pulled the covers up over my face and sat there for hours, wanting to cry but also wanting to scream. What was I going to stuff into that small suitcase? Of course my sketchbooks, my favorite clothes. But how much could I fit? Where would I be sleeping tomorrow night?

This was all too much for me to handle as I fell asleep in a daze.