Unopened Letters//Adopted by Lin-Manuel Miranda//Book One

6_One, Two, Three...

August 29, 2014

They say life gets better. But so far it hasn't. I've written Lin a total 17 letters and he still hasn't replied. Maybe he's been waiting for the right moment. Or maybe he's sick. Of reading fan mail that is. Whatever the reason, I'm done. Okay, maybe not done. But for now, I'm done. For my 13th birthday, Emma got me a phone. So now, I lay in bed and listen to Bring it on Something Isn't Right Here.

I focus on the lyrics as I do, singing along with it.

"I put her on the team she was green as she could be. I took a lot of heat no one wanted her but me. All my dreams were coming true, I was captain it was cool. Then im suddenly redist-... redis. sent to another school. So Skyler's next in line but somehow Skyler flunks! So Kyler should be captain but Kyler's blowing chunks. Is this all coincidence to some related incident that happened to occur, miraculously making way for her
Something isnt right here, i dont know what it is, none of this should be happening. But it is, oh but it is, its like hearing a ticking sound coming from unmarked packages.
Hang on just one second, ill be right there.
CAMPBELL!
Nice Hair.
Thanks! You know you've always been my inspiration.
Clearly. Something isnt right here, i got a spidy sense. Too much has been going down to chalk it up to coincidence.
What coincidence?
That you, a sophmore, suddenly became captian of the squad.
What? You think I did all of this on purpose?
I would never take anything away from you.
Steven?
Baby, what are you doing here?
Something isnt right here.
Baby its no big.
Something isnt right here.
Eva's helping me with trig.
You're alibi's pathetic im here to call your bluff, there's no way he studies trig, theres no way he cares enough, made the team and you made captian, now youre all up in his stuff!
Campbell! Campbell I'm your friend.
Steven I don't think we should see each other for a while. Like forever while.
Baby what?
She did it, she did it, she came up with a plan to take all that she took, my team, my school, my man, next she'll win the lotto, or crap a four leaf clover, can it just be me who sees how she screwed us over!
So its her fault i got mono, and for Skyler failing too, and she somehow got you transfered and this whole things about you.
Yeah, our teams without a captian and our chances arent great, but don't blame it on you mini me she stepped up to the plate. She's barely out of diapers. And yet you're sure its She's getting with you're man who we all know worships you. Yeah i see whats wrong unless you have more to tell us. You're paranoid, you're crazy or maybe you're just jealous!"

"Get off your lazy ass!" Darla screams from the other room. I stand and start doing my chores. "You picked up that tag wrong."

"But I," Darla beats me. I feel my lip bust and my head smashes into the I wall. All I can taste is blood. "Please stop." I beg. I feel my lip bust more, splitting. It hurts like hell and all feels like I could die. I know if I go to Emma, she'll try to fix what Darla's done, but this, this abuse isn't easily fixed. It's been happening since I was seven. I'm 12 now. Nothing's going to change. And if it does, it won't be for the better.

Honestly, I've learned to deal with it. Even though it's hard. Nothing could change at this point. I do my chores, and thankfully one of them is grocery shopping.

I go out, not bothering to cover anything up. The big rip in my bottom lip is still bleeding. I keep my head down.

"Woah, honey, what happened to your face?" I recognize the woman as Lin-Manuel Miranda's wife. She has a big belly.

"Nothing to be worried about. Unless Lin read my letters."

"I don't know. But your lip is split way open."

"I got beat up at school. I just don't want the foster people to see."

"Let me pay for your stuff."

"It's fine. I got it."

"No. I'm paying."

"No. You need to get your stuff."

"No. Child, I am paying for your stuff." She smiles and rubs her belly. "Oh, the baby's kicking."

"Can I?"

"Sure." I place my hand on her belly and the baby kicks again.

"That feels weird."

"It does, doesn't it."

Mrs. Miranda pays for my stuff. "Thank you!" I say and run back to the orphanage.

That was too close.