Forgiven & Forgotten

Chapter 1: Home

Chapter I:

"Amelia...Amelia could you come downstairs."

I stretch out my arms when I realize I wasn't dreaming anymore. A yawn escapes my lips before I reply
"One second, Miss Harrison."

Pushing my body up from my small, wooden bed, I notice I was the last one sleeping..Again. Without thinking twice, I make down the stairs in my nightgown.

Miss Harrison's office is down the hall next to the living room. A light is creeping through the gap under her door, so I'm assuming she is waiting for me in there.

The doorknob twisted before I could reach for it. "Yes, don't worry, she's probably almost here." Miss Harrison says, looking over her shoulder at someone in her office. As she turns her vision towards me, she jumps slightly in surprise.

Looking me up and down, she's short of breath. After a short hesitation, she grabs my wrist and pulls me in. "Here she is, I'm sorry for her looks, she wasn't expecting visitors."

Now, the tall man looks me up and down and couldn't hide a slight disappointment. I don't understand what's happening so I just sit down where Harrison pulled out a chair for me. All of us are seated at a table full of paperwork.

"Tell me, what is your name, child?" The visitor asks.

Fidgeting with my sleeves, I reply to his question. "Amelia Wilson, sir."

He takes a sip of his coffee, holding the cup in a polite manner. "You're probably wondering why I'm here, Amelia." His cup gets set down on a clear spot on the table. "Well, I'm going to help you build a future once you're too old to stay here. Now, when are you turning eighteen?"

"The 25th" In my head, I start calculating the days left until then, only a few.

The stranger folds his hands "Would you be interested to work at a military base? As a nurse, of course."

I look over at miss Harrison for help. She is nodding at me with big eyes. "I would love to, sir." I smile.

The man stands up from his chair and starts walking towards the door. Before he leaves, he speaks once more "There will be a carriage outdoors on the 25th." He turns, the door closes behind him and leaves us in silence.

Looking over at Miss Harrison, I smile. She copies the smile. "Now go, your sisters are already cooking lunch without you."

Getting up from the chair, a quiet "thank you" exits my lips. I'm not sure if she heard it. Right away, I hurry to the dining room to meet my sisters for lunch.

There they sit, one face after the other. Some excited and happy, and others tired and annoyed. But I love every single one of them. Finally, I sit in my usual chair and start telling them about my future.

" 'Melia is going to save lives." Tammy laughs, her mouth full of rice. I giggle and continue eating.

"I can't believe you're leaving us," Sadie says, pushing her food around the plate with her fork.

I take a sip of my water before putting my arm around her shoulders. "I would've had to leave once I'm an adult anyway, I promise I will come visit you."

"Don't become an adult then, it's that easy." The twelve-year-old drops her fork and starts walking off.

"If only it was that easy," I say to myself.

The other children continue eating and conversing while I silently finish my dish.

***

My suitcase fills as my bedside table empties. The last thing I grab is a brown leather jacket, the one I wore five years ago when I was found on the stoop of this orphanage.

I don't remember how I got there, nor what I did before that. In fact, I don't have any earlier memories.

My hand slides into the familiar side pocket of the jacket. An electric pulse hits me when my skin touches a piece of paper. I pull it out and read the cursive handwriting as usual.

"Amelia Wilson, December 25, 1924"

Who could've written this note? Maybe my parents who couldn't care for me anymore and had to give me up. Or they just didn't want me anymore.

A warm, wet drop rolled down my cheek before I put the paper back in the jacket, which I fill the remaining space of the suitcase with.

"I'm ready." My eyes shut, imagining what my future could hold.

" 'Melia, will you come downstairs? Christmas dinner is ready." My eyes open and spot Tammy looking back at me in the doorframe.

I force a smile at her which she seems to accept since she walks up to me, grabs my hand, and leads me down the stairs. I won't be seeing her for a while, or maybe even forever. I won't be seeing any of them.

The dining room is bright and decorated with various candles of different colors and sizes. It has a very warm and friendly feel to it.

So now I eat my last dinner with my family.