Dating the Dead • lrh

16. home

By the time Shelby returned with the child, everyone had cleared up their tables. The older ones helped Ashton wash the dishes by the sink that was on the side of the cottage. I helped the younger ones arrange the chairs and tables while Harper took photos of us.

"Does he always have to document everything?" I asked Shelby. She had changed into black skinny jeans.

She approached the front of the cottage where a chalkboard was. "Who? Happy?" she looked at me for a second then turned to write the alphabet. "We do it for the everyone's moments and for the orphanage's documentation."

"Ah, I see. So, what time are we going home?"

Shelby finished writing and turned to face me. She checked her wristwatch. "It's only half past eight. There are plenty of things to do here," her eyes bore into mine and as much as I wanted to look away, I couldn't. She offered me an apologetic smile, "but if you want to go home, I'll have Harper drive you."

I blinked back my surprise. She always called Harper, Happy. "I-I, um, I just wanted to ask because I don't really know what I'm doing here." I spoke fast because I'm afraid I won't get out the words.

"Living isn't only for yourself. Living is knowing that you've made a difference in someone else's life." Her face was solemn, but a smile was breaking out. "I'm not forcing you to stay, but I'm asking you to give these children a chance to get to know you. Tell you what, if you decided to stay for a little bit longer, I'm going to introduce you again."

Honestly, I wanted to go home. Go back and sleep in my own room. But then, the thought of my own comfort tugged at my heart.

I looked at the orphans who were already sitting and writing on their tattered notebooks. They had smiles on their faces. I looked at them and wonder how can someone so little, with nothing so much as a proper pen and paper could be that happy. While I stood in front of them, feeling like hell despite everything that I have.

Now I get it why Shelby wanted me to stay and she didn't have to tell me why. My home can wait for a few more hours. " Is it okay if I'm the one to introduce myself?"

Shelby's smile grew wider and I couldn't help but smile and be a little bit more grateful of her.

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