Solitary Confinement

The Goodbyes to Cloverfield

Two hours later my clothes, what little I had, were tucked away in my suitcase. A feeling of sadness overwhelmed me and made my heart sink to my stomach. I'm going to miss this room. Just as I started lifting my suitcase, I heard a knock at my door. "Come in Charlotte!" I shouted, already knowing she came back to collect me and then send me away. Charlotte walked through my door, or what used to be my door. Her face showed sympathy and understanding. I had a feeling she'd known what my insides felt like. Without a word, Charlotte and I grabbed my belongings and some odds and ends. While I loaded my things in the backseat of the car, I couldn't help but look back at the group home. It's dark, rusty brown bricks never looked so bright. The white "Welcome to Cloverfield, Home for Children" sign had never been so inviting, and the dead grass surrounding the building never looked so green.

The car ride to Mr. and Mrs. Monroe's house seemed long and dragged on way longer than I could endure. My attention span focused in and out, and Charlotte remained quiet. A song started playing on the radio for the fifth time in the last half hour. With a groan, my hand began to reach and switch the station. Charlotte must have been just as annoyed as I'd been and went to change the station as well. I let out an indifferent chuckled and scanned towards her.

Breaking the silence, Charlotte asked, "You doing okay, Liv?"

"Uh, define 'okay'," I timidly uttered.

"You know if things don't work out, you always have a place at Cloverfield. Just try to adjust, okay? The home you are going to is a good place, safe and secure. They're a well off family with good intentions, and if there are ever any problems feel free to call me. Okay?" I shakily let out a breath, and nodded in response. I was nervous and unsettled. Something didn't feel right to me, but I didn't want to worry Charlotte more than she'd already seemed.

We pulled into a cul-de-sac with what looked to be mansions laid upon the clean cut grass. Wow, they were loaded. The car came to a stop in front of a huge, white house with pillars supported on both sides of the fire red front door. A balcony hovered over the front steps with big glass doors and windows. As my feet came in contact with the pavement, the front door came ajar, and Mrs. Monroe herself made her way out of the house. The closer she got to me, the more nervous I got. Something really doesn't feel right.

"Hello Maria, it's nice to see you again so soon," Charlotte spoke to Mrs. Monroe. Looking at Charlotte, I could sense she had been upset for some reason.

"Thank you so much for bringing Olivia home. We are all excited for her to be here where she belongs."

"It's no problem. I'm sure she will fit in quite nicely with you guys."

Home. This isn't home to me. If I'm still here come six months, maybe then I might start calling it home. Clearing my throat, I'd tried to make my presence known to them both. Mrs. Monroe turn towards me and all but ran in my direction. Again, she embraced me into another tight hug. What is this woman and hugs?

"Oh, it seems like it's been so long since we first met. I can't wait for us to spend some quality time together." I tried wiggling out of her tight grasp and put a little bit of distance between the two of us.

"Uh, thanks," I unenthusiastically replied to my new foster mom. I wasn't excited. Not even a little bit. Something felt wrong about this house to me. I turned toward Charlotte for what felt like the last time. Her eyes brimmed with tears. When she pulled the corners of her mouth into an ironic smile, a tear escaped from the corner of her eyes. Taking two steps forward, I stopped right in front of her. I had to clear my throat before beginning to talk so my voice wouldn't come out in a squeak of emotions.

"Well, I guess this is it," I finally let out after a few seconds of silence, "I'll call you and keep in touch. I promise."

"You know I'm going to miss you so much, right? Who else am I going to wake up at 7:30 in the morning every day?"

We both let out a slight chuckle and Charlotte wiped the falling tears off of her cheeks. Now that I think about it, I lucked out when she came into my life and stayed all the while I'd been at Cloverfield. I don't know what I would have done without her. Her arms reached out and wrapped themselves tightly around my body. A familiar scent of shampoo and vanilla filtered through my nose, giving me a true sense of home. Home. There's that word again.

I gave Charlotte a tight hug, reciprocating her emotional gesture. I know I'd miss my old bedroom, the dark hallways of Cloverfield, and the crummy food fed there. But, I knew I would miss Charlotte more. I'd no longer have her sarcastic comebacks or her understanding of me. For example, she always knew if she didn't come to my room and wake me up early in the morning, then I wouldn't get out of bed until noon. She knew what foods I liked and disliked. She knew about my entire past. I'd have to start all over, again. Charlotte rubbed my back and gave me a final squeeze.

"I'll come check up on you in a few weeks, sound good? Don't you worry. It'll come faster than you think." Charlotte tried smiling in a reassuring matter, but I'd known better. She steadily walked backwards, stumbling over her feet as she made her way back to her car. Hearing the engine roar, I tried biting back the tears that threatened to fall out of my own eyes. I waved aimlessly at her car while Maria led me into my new home. Afraid to turn away, I took one last glance at the car that drove down the street, out of the cul de sac. I had always turned my back on a new family, now it seemed that the only family I ever knew turned it's back on me. And I, Olivia Barnaby, was once again alone.