From The Ashes We Rise

Chp 44: A Home

~Mid December~

I stood in line with the kids and waited as the couple brought in by Mdm Li talked to each child. My heart was beating furiously in my chest. Would they choose me? Was I really gonna get a real family? Questions flooded my brain continuously, adding to the increased anxiety I felt at that moment.

I remembered Mdm Li waking me up earlier, informing me that that couple was coming to adopt. This matter of adoption never occurred in a very long time; it's been months since visitors had stepped into the building to adopt, according to her.

I spent at least 45 minutes to bathe and fix my appearance. It was painstaking but I had to do it; I didn't want to look so dead inside. I also had to wear something that wasn't band-related, which was fine by me. First impressions, y'know?

I stood anxiously as they slowly edged towards where I was. I started to fidget with my bracelets because I was starting to get a little jumpy. I was so damn nervous, I thought I would go straight into a panic attack if they even tried to talk to me. I started to sweat.

When the couple finally approached me, they appeared confused at why I was the only American there. They asked various questions: where I was actually from, how I ended up in Singapore and how old I was. I decided to just summarise what I had gone through in my life. I had also mentioned I ran away from home at the age of 15 because of some... complications with my birth father. After I managed to explain literally everything, the couple glanced at each other then gave me a look of pity. Then, they left me to talk to Mdm Li.

I shrugged. I didn't think I was gonna get chosen anyway. My lack of confidence in that was astonishing. I already knew that the kids had a higher chance than me. I just stood there, wondering continuously who was the chosen one.

After what seemed like an eternity, Mdm Li called for me. I was surprised but walked over to her anyway. She told me that the couple waiting in her office already had a child of their own, a 7-year-old boy named Kenneth, but they wanted to make a difference to an orphan. My life story touched them so much that they felt compelled to adopt me. My eyes widened. Me? Chosen? I... I couldn't believe it. I heard Mdm Li dismiss the other orphans as I leaned against the wall.

"Go get your things," she instructed, then entered her office.

Through a small window in the door, I could see my to-be parents discussing about me and handling some paperwork. I was on the brink of tears; I was finally getting a forever home.

Eventually, I just started sobbing. I rushed to the upstairs bathroom and avoided contact with any of the others. I didn't want them to see me crying. After washing my face a few times, I returned to my room to grab everything I literally owned. I raided my wardrobe and all the drawers I could find in my room. Then, I packed my things neatly into my suitcase and bag.

I left my room then closed the door. I called Ian to help me bring my suitcase down. When he climbed upstairs to meet me, he embraced me and cried into my shirt.

"You're going already?" he sobbed.

I nodded and ran a hand through his hair. "I'll miss you, little soldier."

We stood in that position for a while until Ian could regain his composure. Then, he carried one side of my suitcase while I carried the other side. We slowly climbed down the stairs. At the first floor, I thanked him then rolled my suitcase just outside of Mdm Li's office. My new parents were waiting for me with her there. She invited me in to discuss the matter of changing my name.

Usually, there was a name change when a child gets adopted. Well, I decided that I preferred to change my middle name, and my parents accepted that. They decided to put my adoptive dad's surname as my middle name. It wasn't that big of a change. At least that horrible name Matthew was finally erased. I wanted to keep my last name because a lot of people remember me by that and I wanted to keep some part of my birth family with me.

After all the paperwork was settled, my dad helped put my bags in the trunk of the car while I sat in the front seat. As we left the orphanage for my new home, my parents made conversation with me again. This time, I was babbling on and on about how great it was for me to finally get a home again. They also talked about their son, who I was excited to see.

My new home was in a flat, just like any other Singaporean home. It wasn't that high up; it was on the third floor. My house was just a few bus stops away from where Ariff lived and nearer to my school than the orphanage. I didn't have to wake up so early to go to school anymore.

Kenneth, or Kenny as I called him, welcomed me with open arms. He was visibly excited to have an older brother. He was hugging me and screaming repeatedly when I first entered the house. My parents had to pry him off me because I needed to keep my things in his room. Yes, I was sharing a room with him, much to his delight. This was the first time I would have a younger brother. I hope I could be a good example for him. Kids are very impressionable, after all.

I stepped outside the house to take another good look at where I would be staying for the rest of my life, probably. A few other houses lined the corridor, with a lift in the middle. Some neighbours have plants sitting outside their houses, soaking up the afternoon sun. My new house also has plants, though not as much as the other houses. I could only guess that my adoptive parents can't care for so many.

I looked out of the corridor. Though I was on the lower floors, I could still see what was around my block. There was nature everywhere, a shelter, an exercise place and a playground. It appeared livelier than the area around the orphanage. It was a fresh change, and probably something I needed for a while.

I entered my house again to rearrange all my clothes and squeeze them into the wardrobe I was also sharing with Kenny. The kid even offered to help me out. He messed up some of the clothes I had neatly folded, though. My mother came in with a set of new hangers for me to use, so I had no reason to fret too much. Once that was done, I lay on my bed with my phone in hand. Kenny had gone out to watch TV, so I was alone in the room.

With a smile on my face, I  informed all the friends I had made over the past two or three years. They all congratulated me and were absolutely proud of me. I thanked my lucky stars on that day. I finally had a loving family after those years of abuse and loneliness. 

And finally, my story has a happy ending.