Aneon [Incomplete]

Chapter 4

Finally in front of the orphanage, and out of breath, I saw the little children all run out to greet me like they always do every afternoon. I hugged each and every one of them. Wow there were a lot of children. Fifteen to be exact, sixteen if you add me. I left the best for last…lil’ Annie. I picked her up in my arms and gave her a big bear hug. Annie is the cutest of them all, in my opinion, and she’s only four years old. She has natural, straight red hair, large light, blue eyes, a cute little nose, freckles that dotted her cheeks and a beautiful smile. Today she was wearing the red dress and black shoes I bought her. Surprisingly her hair was still up in the pony-tail, finished with a ribbon, which I did for her before I left for school this morning. She always brightens my day. It’s like a connection we have. Almost like a mother-daughter relationship. I wish she really were mine to keep. I took a deep breath and let her down slowly.

“Okay, kids, lets go inside. I have something important I need to tell you all.”

I didn’t want to but I had to. I couldn’t just disappear without telling them where I was going or why I had to go. This isn’t going to be easy to tell them or Ms. Griffin, our matron. She always told me that the children listened to me more than they did to her. Since I am the oldest (sixteen years old), I help her to look after them all the time, also because I love kids. It’s going to be tough for her to manage fifteen kids on her own. Maybe I could ask Simone to help her from time to time. Simone is the second oldest, she’s fourteen, but I believe she could still help Ms. Griffin. I sent one of the kids to get Ms. Griffin.

            She strolled into the living room with a smile on her face. She always loved seeing me with the kids. I let out a long sigh.

“Ms. G, kids, I have something to tell you. I-I’m leaving tonight.”

Ms. Griffin (A.K.A. Ms. G) sucked air. The kids all started mumbling.

“When are you coming back?” asked Suzy.

“That’s the thing. I don’t think I’ll be able to come back.”

The kids started complaining some even started to cry.

“Why?” I heard one of them bawl.

“I got an invitation to a school that I get to stay at. So it’s like I’ll be living there and get go to school there, at the same time. I can’t let an opportunity like this pass. It’s supposedly one of the best schools ever.” I made sure to leave out the part where if I don’t go I get sick and die. I blinked a few time to make sure not to cry. Annie started to cry and tugged on my shirt while saying in between sobs, “Please don’t go. We need you!”

I hugged her tight and said, “No you don’t. You all grew so much. You have Ms. Griffin and Simone to help you.”

“But-but-but…we’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you all too.”

After a long thirty minutes they all stopped complaining. They weren’t happy but I finally got them to let me leave. I gave them all one last hug before leaving. Ms. Griffin gave me a hug and told me that she was glad I cared so much about her and the kids and to remember that they’re always here for me if I needed them. Tears threatened to fall but I had to suck it up and be a grown person to handle this. I literally stomped my way up the stairs to say goodbye to my room. Annie followed me all the way up, like always. As soon as I closed the door behind us she threw her arms wide open, flung herself at my legs(since she was so tiny and I was so tall, she could only reach my thigh if she stretched) and started to sob. I got her off my legs, lifted her up and hugged her. She buried her face into my shoulder and cried. I coughed a few times but tried not to. There was only one way to get her to calm down. I have to sing her to sleep.

“Annie, would you like me to sing you to sleep, one last time?”  My voice broke a little.

She nodded slowly. I shifted her a bit so I could rock her to sleep while I sang. She liked the rocking affect. It made her feel like she was on a boat. I cleared my throat and started to sing ‘Goodnight’ by Evanescence. It’s her favourite lullaby to fall asleep to.

Goodnight. Sleep tight.

No more tears.

In the morning,

I’ll be here.

And…When…We say ‘Goodnight’;

Dry Your Eyes.

Because we say Goodnight,

And not Goodbye.

We say ‘Goodnight’,

And not Goodbye.

Like always, she has fallen fast asleep to my singing. I was able to sing for as long as I can remember. But Annie needed me to sing to her for her to fall asleep. It didn’t bother me one bit. Actually I had to sing all the little ones to sleep. They, each, had their own favorite lullaby. Well since this will no longer be my room, I wanted to give it to her. So I rested her down gently on my bed, took off her shoes, slowly and carefully so I won’t wake her and pulled the blanket over her. I tip-toed my way to the door and closed it lightly behind me. I headed downstairs and spotted Ms. G, “Ms. G, I would like to give Annie my room if you don’t mind. I think it would help her sleep without me here to sing her to sleep.”

“Oh that’s no problem at all. I agree with you, it might help her sleep without you around to sing to her. So are you sure this is what you want to do?”

I coughed and coughed again. Finally the coughing subsided.

“Yes I’m sure. Also can you give Annie my cell phone number and let her know she can call me anytime she wants?”

“Of course dear.” She took a deep breath then continued, “wow, I remembered how tiny you were when I got you and all I could think was, ‘how could any mother give up such a glorious child’. And look at you now. All grown up and making decisions all by yourself.”

She pulled me into one of her big, old hugs that I love. I hugged her back. A few moments passed then I pulled away to say my final goodbye.

“Well I guess now is a good enough time as any other. Thank you soooo much Ms. G for all you’ve done and sacrificed for me. You will always be in my thoughts and my prayers.”

“And the same to you, my dear, have a pleasant trip.”

“Bye”

“Goodbye, dear”

I ran out the door, afraid that I’d turn back around and not go. I took out the card I rolled up in my pocket and looked at the emblem. Lines within lines. Intricate workings of swirls and shapes entwining each other. There was a bright flash, and then there I was in front of a giant iron gate.