The Murder That Changed Me Forever

Chapter 10

Nothing has really happened these last few days. But today is my birthday. Which means I'm 17. My first birthday without my parents. It feels awful.

What is that smell, I think. Could that really be my favorite breakfast. I haven't had pancakes since I was 12. Oooh, if it is pancakes I am going to devour them.

I go out to the kitchen and sure enough Josh is making pancakes.

" Dang it. I screwed your birthday up already. This was supposed to be a breakfast in bed," Josh says frustrated

" Well morning to you to," I say back.

" Why don't you go out to the living room and I'll bring you breakfast when it's ready."

" Okay."

I start to leave, but then he stops me. " Wait Jess."

" Yeah josh."

" Happy birthday."

Lily then comes out. I go to the living room and put on my favorite movie. "The First Light Of Dawn."

Josh and Lily come out to the living room. Josh is holding a tray full of breakfast for me. And Lily is hiding something behind her back. All of a sudden she takes it from behind her back. She hands me an envelope with wrapping paper around it.

" I told you guys I didn't want anything for my birthday," I say in an annoyed voice.

" You will be happy. Just open it," says Lily.

I tear off the paper and open the envelope and read the papers. They are adoption papers. Josh and Lily want to adopt me! Wait a second. If they do adopt me they will both be in danger too.

" I want this to happen I really do, but I can't accept this right now. That would put you both in danger. You are already risking your lives letting me stay here. I don't want to put you in even more danger. I love you both. You are like my new family. I don't want to lose you too. Thank you for the thought of it, though," I start to cry at the thought.

" We understand. We will do this when you are ready," Lily starts to go to the other room.

" Hold on Lily. Can you get me a pen?"

Lily grabs a pen and makes sure it works before handing it to me. I sign my name on the line and give it to them. We then go to turn the form in once I finish getting ready.

" Thank you guys so much. This is the best birthday present ever. But we got to keep this secret from the press. Or the murderer will find out and kill you both."

" We know Jess. We are taking this risk for you. Because we want you as part of our family," Josh explains.

" We want you to be happy, and not sad. We know it must be hard for you to lose your parents, but we will make an effort to do better, and if not better, at least be really good parents," Lily says.

" Mom, Dad, I love you," they were both shell shocked to hear me call them that. Then they smiled and hugged me. We gone up to the city hall building and handed in the papers at the front desk.

" Jess we love you too," they say in unison.

I smile. I didn't think I would recruit back to my old self this quick. After all my parents did die only about a month ago. Maybe it's because I didn't push the grief to the side and I let it happen. Although I am still grieving, but not as bad I thought I would be at this point. Maybe it's because I saw my parents spirits and they told me they forgive me. But I am still not sure if I forgive myself. Afterall that never would have happened if I didn't sneak out.

At that moment I really decided what I wanted to be when I grow up. I wish to be like agent Morgan or Justin. I want to be part of the FBI.