A Boy with No Where to Go

Decisions

After Emily had left her apartment, she stormed of to somewhere secluded where she could get some time to think about what to do. She knew that Henry had no family and that he had lived by himself for several weeks, but other than that she didn't know much. He could have been using her. He could actually be hiding from the police because he got caught with drugs. Thoughts stormed her brain causing her head to ache. She looked down at her feet. Why was this happening. Was there someone who could help her with this choice? She sighed and found herself in a park. 

A bench sat behind her with an older woman on the other side. The woman's eyes were closed, but flicked open when Emily sat down next to her. The woman noticed Emily's distraught face and questioned her about it. "I'm supposed to make a choice that will more than likely be painful for me," Emily told the woman. "This boy came into my life, and even though I should give him to someone who can actually give him a family, I want to keep him for myself." The older woman chuckled slightly. It hadn't taken much to get Emily to speak about her issues. Emily's embarrassment showed when she looked away from the woman. 

A glove was placed over Emily's hand in a reassuring manner. As if to say that no offense was meant. Emily looked back at the woman who was smiling. "You do have a lot on your mind," she said. She stuck her hand in her purse before pulling it out. A small picture was in her hands which she handed to Emily. The picture held the faces of five children. All of them were of different race and had different features about them. "Those are all my children," the woman said. Emily glanced back at the woman. She wore a fond smile on her face. 

"They mean everything to me. All of them were orphaned when they were young. This one," she said as she pointed to a boy with red, curly hair, "always gave me trouble. He had been through so many homes that he didn't believe he'd ever find a family. I remember that for an entire month under my care he wouldn't speak to me. He always skipped his meals, but late in the night I would hear him rummage through my fridge in search of food. After I learned this, I made more food and put it in the fridge just for him to eat later." 

"You kept him even though he didn't want you?" Emily asked the woman in shock. She smiled and nodded. A warmth flickered in her eyes. 

"Listen, dear," she said as she gave Emily's hand a pat. "Even though they act tough. They're always lonely or in pain." Emily thought back to when Henry had been crying. She thought of how his voice was full of venom when he talked about his parents. "They're always afraid." That last word made Emily feel more guilt than what she had ever felt. She got up and thanked the woman for her insight before heading back to the apartment. She knew what she was going to do.

Within minutes she reached the apartment complex only to find that Henry was being walked out by an official-looking woman. Henry glared at Emily as she came into his view. One of them felt betrayed and the other felt guilt. Emily began to speed her pace to ask the woman what she was doing with Henry. Then, she saw Jacob standing behind them. He was talking to the woman. Now she felt like she had been betrayed. The sound of the car starting echoed through her thoughts and snapped her away from her daze. The car was pulling out of the parking lot. 

Quickly, Emily dashed after the car in hopes of making them stop. Henry didn't look at her. Henry.  The car was about to leave her sight. Emily's lungs were giving out and tears stung her eyes. She watched as the car sped out of her view. "Henry!" Emily cried out. She was about to start her chase again, but strong arms stopped her. She fought against them with all her might. "Calm down, it will be better for him," she heard Jacob say in her ear. She finally got out of his grip and turned to look at him. Her eyes blazed with anger. 

"How could you? How could you do that to him?" Emily yelled.