My Wings

Chapter 4

I wake up to the birds chirping and the sunlight beaming through the light pink curtains. I take the time i have alone to gather my thoughts. Okay. I have a good foster family. Finally, life is good, its gonna be good.

My body feels heavy when i try and lift myself up from the bed, and drag myself out the door. I instantly hear talking and laughing from down stairs.

Once i reach the bottom step, I see Soda, Marebelle, and another man sitting on the couch. Marebelles fingers are intertwined with the mans and she has her head on his while they both laugh at something that Soda must have said.

"Morning, sleeping beauty" Marebelle gives me a warm smile after lifting her head up from the mans shoulder.

"good morning" uncertainty clear in my voice. Soda catches on quickly and introduces me to the man.

"Nalla, have you met Roman?" Soda motions to the man.

"Oh, of course, silly me. Nalla, this is Roman. My fiance" her face beams with love at the mention of his name.

"Its nice to meet you" I smile while holding my hand out to him.

"pleasures all mine" he lightly shakes my hand.

Soda pats the seat next to him and i sit with them.

"Are you hungry, i made some eggs" before i could respond, Marebelle gets from her seat and walks over to the kitchen.

"That would be wonderful, Thank you"

"So, whens the wedding again?" Soda breaks the silence.

"3 Weeks"

"Wow.. that's soon"

"Well I think we have waited long enough" even though this is a normal conversation, i cant help but feel the awkward tension between the three of us. 

"So how are you feeling about all of this?" i ask the man

"all of what?"

Oh you know how your soon to be wife just took in 2 teenage foster kids probably without you knowing

 "Us" i motion my hand between Soda and I 

"Oh" he catches on "I think its wonderful, Marebelle has been wanting to do this for a while now. She was gonna take in this sweet little 5 year old boy. We agreed on it and got everything ready for the little boy. But then she just changed her mind. Something told her to take you two in." He gives us a sympathetic smile

"what was the little boys name" Soda asks but I already know the answer 

"I think it was.. Jackson? yeah it was Jackson? 

My eyes begin to water but I quickly swallow them. Me and Soda knew the little boy. He was the smartest most sweetest little boy i have ever encountered with. His mother used to burn him with her cigarette. They lived in a studio apartment in a very poor neighborhood, because his dad wasted all of his money on gambling. After his mother went to jail, he was always sent to the worst foster homes, Just like Soda and I. He could have had this beautiful house. He could have had Marebelle as a new Foster mom. He could of had a better life here. He could have gotten a second chance. But we took it. We took that from him.  I cant take it anymore

"Excuse me for a moment please" I say quietly before leaving the living room and onto the small balcony. I don't cry. I just stand there in sorrow as I hear Soda's footsteps behind me. I quickly lock the glass door. 

"open the door" he mouths through the glass. I shake my head at him. "please" he mouths again  

I sigh in surrender and unlock the door. 

"hey, you okay?" Soda asks as soon as I open the door.

"mm-hmm" I mumble

"come here" he opens his arms for me and i step in closer and he gives me a big bear hug.

"It should have been him. He should have gotten the better life. He should have been the one to have a good family. We would have been fine on our own. We have survived because we have each other. He has no one. We would've suffered for a little longer and eventually gotten a better home. We could have waited. He shouldn't have to wait, no kid should go through what we go through" I say into his chest. I'm on the verge of tears and i know it. I just feel so bad for that sweet little boy. He really doesn't have anyone.

"look at me" Soda places his thumb and index finger between my chin to make me look at him "Things may have not turned out for the best, but we have a home, even if its only temporary. We can be happy, and things could actually go good for us. We have a chance to start over. And that little boy, sooner or later he will get his chance as well. I promise." I know hes trying to make me feel better, but he doesn't know what life has in store for that little boy. I only pray to god that there is light for him at the end of that dark, dark tunnel.

"So please lets just enjoy what we have been given, and be grateful that thinks turned out okay for us. Okay?"

"okay" i give him a weak smile. But its not, Its not okay, things don't just automatically go good, there has to be a bad side to this, there always is. I wouldn't get too comfortable. 

"ready to go?"

I nod and Soda starts guiding me to the door. We enter the living room, Marebelle and her fiance are sitting on the couch discussing something. As they hear us come up they immediately gather all of there attention on us. Compassion clear on there faces.

"Is - Is everything alright" worry in her voice

"Every things fine" I give her a fake smile 

"Okay well do you kids want  to go see our little town that is Wallfort?" Marebelle's fiance tries and lighten the mood.

"oh sweetie, I cant, I have a meeting with the School about getting Nalla and Soda spots. I totally forgot" she groaned 

"Hunny, its okay, go to your meeting, I can take them. If that's alright with you?" He turned to us

'Uhm.." Soda trailed off looking at me for approval as i nod "sure, that could be cool" 

 "okay great" He grins from ear to ear "you guy get ready and well go."

"uhm i don't have a coat or jacket" I admit 

"That's alright, use of mine until i buy you a new one" I know she wants to, but i don't feel right letting her spend money on us. But I know that if i argue, i wont win so i just lock my guilt in the back of my head and grab her coat.