𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕓𝕝𝕖𝕕

Part 35: Police Chase

Lauren and Nessa wake up early the next morning to go get the rooms done. They stop at the store and pick up some things that they think fit the rooms. They pick basketball themed gear for Aaron's room. He outgrow his old room awhile ago, so he took all the non- fundamental things that looked childish and he threw them away. It left his room looking empty and it's been like that ever since. Laid and Nessa want to change that. They pick up all the stuff from the store and work on his room. They quickly set that up a paint the room. Lear isn't home but they still make sure to clean up behind themselves. They move in to Alex's room. The paint his and decorate it with some football stuff. They hang up pictures in both of the boys rooms. They're all different sizes and less girly then how they were decorated in Roni's room. They drive to Sherry's house and go to work on Mariah and Malaya's room. They of course stop and get some food. Mariah's room is painted and decorated and Malaya's room is too. By the time they finish it's six o'clock.

"We probably should get back to the hospital now." Nessa says

"But I love these rooms. They look like everyone that we made them for. They really reflect who they're made for and I'm a little tired. Can we go back to your house or mine so we can take a nap?" Laur asks

"You're right. I could really use a nap. Let's go back to my house since you don't have a house key." Nessa says. They go back to Nessa's house and they take a nap in the couch. They're proud of their progress and they're glad they could help people.

Alex, Kian, and Mariah look back and forth at each other. The answer to the question is good but they don't know how Aaron is going to react. He's been taking care of them almost all of their lives. They don't know how he's going to feel about just handing that over to someone else. That's something that he's taken as a responsibility. It's something that he prides himself in. They also don't know if he's going to be mad. They feel like he's going to be mad that he wasted his whole childhood to take care of them. They can't imagine how that would feel. Of course they feel like they have some of their childhood robbed from them from living in a orphanage, and hiding that huge of a secret, but not to the extent that Aaron must feel. He's been a parent for almost his whole life. No going out for fun until at least Alex was old enough to watch everyone, no hanging out with friends that would ask to come back to his house, no late night parties that almost every teenager goes to because he had to be home to make dinner and put everyone to bed, no freedom because he had something so big to do at home. He's never been to a party, touched alcohol, or even just been over to friends house other than Kian's . It's makes Alex, Kian, and Mariah sad. Some of those experiences they've even had chance to do. They feel bad that Aaron gave up his chance to do them to give them a chance to.

"Aaron you were adopted. By my mom and Officer Lear. Gina was arrested for multiple things, including what she did to you guys. She's in a holding cell right now until you're healed up enough and ready to talk about the events that happened. We don't want to rush you into it. Mariah is going to stay with my mom so she'll have some help with the baby. They think it will be best to have a mother figure. You and Alex will stay with Lear. He's extremely happy. I promise he'll take good care of you. I'll still be staying with my mom because she has custody of me. Lear and my mom are planning on getting married, so when that happens then we can all move in together. I understand if this is a lot for you to take in and well give you a second. It was a lot for us too." Kian says

"I-I don't know what to say. Are we really adopted? No more living alone? No more hiding?!" Aaron says. His voice cracks multiple times during this.

"It's all over. We're safe now" Alex says through tears. It truly is all over. They don't have to hide. They don't have to worry. No more lying, hiding, and dealing with having to live a lifestyle that isn't theirs. They all just want to tell freedom, but they're pretty sure they'll get in a lot trouble with the doctors and the other patients if they do that so they'll wait until they're out of the hospital. For right now a quiet one will do.