Echo

06

[ 06 ]
Namjoon sets me down on the bed leaving the room to make a phone call. I've long since stopped crying the need to sleep arising. Maybe if I close my eyes I can escape the pain.

I open my eyes a couple hours later the having gone down leaving only a little bit of light to stream through the balcony windows. I sit up looking around the room until my eyes come to Namjoon head held in his hands. I wonder how long he's been there. "Oh good you're awake...I have someone I want you to talk to down stairs." He stands up from the chair Fixing his jeans before motioning to the door. I stand up grabbing my bag following Namjoon down the stairs. I hear voices as we come closer the living room. I follow Namjoon into the living room noticing two men standing in front of the couch. I take a seat next to Namjoon staring at the two men standing in front of us.

"Don't be nervous they just want to ask you a few questions about where your from and your life back home." Despite him telling me not to be nervous I am extremely nervous. What do these men want with me. He gestures for the men to begin their questioning. "Hi I'm Heon woo and this is my partner Sung min and we work for child protective services. We would like to ask you a few questions about your life at home is that okay?" I'm hesitant but I nod my head anyways. "We have reason to believe that you have run away from home. Is that true?" I look down at my feet before placing my eyes back on the man and answering. "Yes...but that is only because my mom didn't want me anymore." Feeling the sadness from earlier engulf me again.

We talk for a while longer them asking me various questions from my real name to where I'm actually from and how I exactly I got here. I explain my life leaving out some of the more upsetting details. Once the men finish asking me questions they leave the room going to talk privately in the kitchen. Namjoon doesn't say anything leaving me to my own thoughts. Memories of my moms physical and emotional abuse flood my mind and before I know it tears are streaming down my face silently but I just let them closing my eyes and taking in deep breaths to calm my nerves. Namjoon scoots closer hesitating slightly before grabbing my hand but before he can say anything the men enter the room again.

"Okay we have made a decision. We want to take you and put you in a foster care home where you can be properly cared for." My eyes widen at the statement. I can't go into a foster care home no one will adopt me I'm way too old and I don't fit in here my skin is too dark no one will want me. "I don't think tha-" "You don't have a choice Sherlyn!" "Don't call me that! My name is Echo." I'm beyond angry that he used my real name. I stopped people from calling me Sherlyn after my mom confessed that she hated me and the fact that we shared the same name. I realize there is no point in fighting with them their gonna get what they want anyways. "You know what fine I'll come with you just let me go get my things." I turn and walk towards the entrance of the house putting my shoes on but before I finish I get an idea. "I'm not going into foster care..." I mumble to myself and when I finish tying my shoes I open the door to the house and sprint down the pathway ignoring the shouts behind me pulling the fence open and running full speed anywhere else than that house.