Prophecy Says

Foster

The tune was melancholy I noticed.
It predicted a verge of change, and despair.
Loss was a great word to describe it. Loss...
Chloe stopped there, her face serene as ever.
I began to wonder how she can cope so eloquently after playing a piece so devastating.
Something I hope to learn one day.
"Hello... Daniella.. Are you feeling alright?"
I looked sharply over at her, I must've zoned out. "Yeah, it was beautiful what inspired that one?"  She blushed a rosy pink and set the violin down on her bed.
"Can't tell."
I brushed it off, it's no use with that one. Because Chloe never failed to be - animated to put it kindly.
"Are you sure it was ok? I don't want to be obnoxious or anything. It makes me nervous when Miss. Maeve threatens to take away my violin." She said.
Even though Chloe was weird at times, you can tell the poor girl had a rough upbringing. And I always protected her, guarded her, from all the easily angered bitches here in the group-home.
"Maeve only has to prove a point to the people here hat actually cause trouble. So don't worry about it."
She gave one last nervous look and started to braid her midnight black hair. When I looked at her, all I could see was innocence. I was 18 and she was 12. Chloe had he personality of a child, I made it my duty to care for her. I needed something to take my mind of being here. She was my short term remedy - my little sister, I said the day she came. And I will never forget it either. I rose when I saw something move by the door.
"Mail time ladies." Juniper said as she flipped her hair back, and strode down the hall.
God, I hate her. Almost as much as much as mail time - because I never get any. Nobody really knows shit about me, only because I was left in a park with my name written on a piece of parchment. That counts for something right? "Let's go see if my Uncle Frank sent me anything!"
Chloe hopped out bed, and skipped out the door. Too bad he's an alcoholic, and unfit to take her in. Or else I would have threatened him if he didn't. She slid impatiently back into our room and looked at me exuberantly.
"I think I heard Juniper say you got something from someone!"
I faltered for a moment, and regained my senses.
"You best get you're hearing checked, little one." I said jokingly.
Chloe pouted, looking at me with frustration.
"I'm not deaf Dani."
"I'm sure you aren't, but you must've mistaken my name, with some else's."
I stood up and took her hand.
"Let's go see if your uncle brought you anything exciting."
I traced her steps down the chestnut staircase and landed on the same plush ivory carpet. Maeve's home was quite beautiful, and it was obvious that she fancied her pink shades. But it was just enough so that it wasn't overdone. I admired the paintings on the wall, and took in the aroma of the fresh hyacinths placed sporadically in all of the rooms. My back rested against the post that led into the living area. I looked sympathetically down at Chloe, who again was reading bullshit sent her from her  uncle. He promised to get better, and he didn't. He promised to take her away, and he didn't. He promised to even visit her, and he never did. But it's not the bastards fault that he doesn't understand that he either gets with the program, or that he needs to leave her alone to grieve properly.
"Maybe he'll really do it this time Dani." She says with tears welled in her eyes.
Her voice shook with emotion, and I felt myself begin soften, for her comfort.
"I bet my love for tacos he will."
I gave her a crooked grin, and she slowly nodded her head that knocked the tears straight from her eyes.
"Daniella."
I looked up in surprise, to see Tesla holding something out to me. Tesla and I didn't know each other; but she also didn't bother me as much as the others. She even seemed nice from afar. Her hand continued to shake in front of me.
"Mail, take it."  She said as if she were trying to teach a toddler to do something.
So Chloe was right, I really did get something.
"Told ya, Dani." Chloe said.
I rolled my eyes at her, and snatched the mail from Tesla. The only thought rolling through my head as to what this piece of junk could tell me. For some reason, I didn't want to open it around a bushel of angsty teens who feed on gossip. So I quickly shoved it in the waistband of my jeans, and disguised it easily. Just then, Chloe solemnly goes up the steps and shuts our door, I guess I'll have to come up with something to cheer her up tonight. Meanwhile, I walk through the living area to get to the kitchen right next to the back door. Maeve is grocery shopping, her son is snoring in her office, and everyone - except me - is distracted by mail. Perfect. I slowly twist the knob leading to the dumpsters, roads, and other houses. But mostly what I'm set on doing is sneaking a cigarette. I close he door soundlessly behind me and look around. Once the paranoia starts to wear off, I dip down to the brick steps and knock on each of them. All were sounding the same. Hard, solid, whole, and when I finally heard the hollow brick my mouth began to water. I yanked the brick out and quickly grabbed what I needed, and put it back safely. Behind the dumpsters I planted myself up against the cold green metal. I put the cigarette to my mouth, and just as I was about to light it the cigarette was already being lit for me. I looked up; alarmed, and breathed out when I saw who it was.
"Jesus Jayla you scared the shit out of me!"
I said in a rash whisper. Jayla looked down at me from where she was standing. Her dark cornrows in a neat ponytail to the side, and her chocolate skin that I envied every single day. She gave a sly smile and slid down next to me.
"So how's Chloe?" She asked.
I glanced at her, then took one long inhale of the hot smoke and exhaled easily.
"She's doing better than normal. She's more, I don'know - happy?"
Jayla reached out and grabbed it from my fingers. I must have looked like an idiot staring at my empty hands. I gave her a glare, she found amusement in my attempt to look displeased.
"You know one day,you'll be kicked out of here and we'll probably never see each other again. But what's gonna happen to her?" She stated gesturing towards the house.
"Who's going to take care of her?"
I found myself questioning my philosophy. All I've done here is take care of myself and Chloe, because I relied on her for my sanity and my life at times. I've learned so much of her, and what I have it's all been so childlike and innocent. Her happiness makes me beam, I love that little girl sitting upstairs. Nothing could change that.
"I don't know - yet. Get a job, and fight the system to let me foster her - at least until she's old enough to make her own descisions."
She looked at me in silence.
"You'd actually do that."
She said in a surprised tone. Like I had just enlightened her with my secret identity as a ninja. Heh, I wish.
"For Chloe.." I shook my head slowly.
"I think I'd do anything to keep her content. She saved my life, so I'm only returning the favor." I said matter-of-factly.
I brought the filter to my lips, and took in another deep amount of smoke. It went down thickly as I threw my head back against the dumpster.
"It's too bad she won't be able to go with you when you age out of here. Can't be long now, you just turned 18. Hell, if I was Maeve I'd try and sneak her out, Let her live with you. I mean you take better care of Chloe than she does. Maeve doesn't have the affect on her that you somehow have."  She said in an urgent whisper.
"Even so, my coordination is way to low on the spectrum to help Maeve pull anything off. I would fuck up, say something to the wrong person, and probably get arrested for napping a kid. - Yeah, that sounds bout' right." I stated.