Abrupt Beginning

Chapter 2: Family

I limped out of the hospital(just ridding myself of crutches) with the nurse. She seemed relieved to be rid of me, but also a little sad. Who else would ask her the same questions over and over again and drive her up the wall? This was it. I was going away. It was all so odd, it felt like leaving home. Since waking up in the hospital is last thing I remember, it was the only thing I knew.

They thought it was best for me to move out of state to live in the foster system. If I ever ran into somebody from my past it would only confuse me and make my situation harder. And with that the idea of parents fled my mind.

I moved from Austin, Texas to South Bend, Indiana. Very far away, but there wasn't much to miss since I couldn't remember anything and I didn't get a tour of the town I was leaving.

The airplane ride was blur. Nothing stood out to me. I sat in the window seat next to me escort who seemed to terrified to talk to me. What could she ask me? I wouldn't have an answer.

After arriving in Indiana, I was taken outside to go to my new home. My fake foster home that I didn't want to go to. I didn't want to make a new life from scratch. I didn't have things other kids had. Birthdays, friends, faith, anything. I was being with no identity, no defined soul.

"Get in the car please, miss......" His voice trailed. The only name I had been given was unclaimed amnesia patient. He closed the car door behind me and got in on the driver side while I sat in the back.

We barely talked the whole way to my new house. He managed to gently ask, "Have you really forgotten everything?"

"Yes, sir" I replied.

"Poor child," he murmured under his breath. I pretended not to hear. Although I did start to realize what situation I was in. I made a promise to myself that whatever had driven me to suicide last time, wasn't going to get to me. I thought to myself don't let it get you. It seemed to work.

We pulled into this neighborhood called Bella Cantara. Every house was bigger than the one before it, or so it looked. The large detailed gates and long driveways for huge parties were everywhere. The landscaping was beautiful and the entire neighborhood seemed to have not a single spec in the wrong place.

He turned left on Shady Grove Ln, a large culdesac with three marvelous houses. More like white houses, actually.

The driveway we pulled into led to beautiful gardens. On the other side of the marble fountain was a palace. It looked like the Taj Mahal, with all the marble and stone. Six large columns support the porch and the upper level balcony.

I ringed the doorbell once I reached the top of the staircase, a little winded from the extra effort it took to go to the next step my throbbing leg. A nice looking man opened the door, I assumed he was the butler.

"Ah!" He exclaimed. "We have been expecting you miss........" The same hesitation I experienced with my driver.

"Miss is fine thank you," trying to answer his puzzled expression. I wiped my one foot on the mat just in case I would track dirt into this holy place.

"Wait here" the butler held his hand out gesturing for me to sit. I sat down on the plush sofa. If there was a bigger word than plush, I wish I knew it. It was like a cloud swallowed me, and I had been accepted as one of its own. I didn't want to leave because I was afraid of losing its trust.

The house was marvelous. A kitchen so large Congress could have sessions in there. The stairs were the same marble as the details on the outside of the house. The whole place looked like somewhere Marilyn Monroe would have lived.

After a few minutes, the butler came back accompanied by a very pretty woman with a smile so bright it made the room feel happier.

"Hello!" She said excitedly. Her eyes flashed deep green, and her soft brown hair curled, perfectly styled. Her outfit was stunning. A beautiful halter dress with stones that looked more expensive than my entire being. Chiffon draped behind her in flowing fluidness that made her seem goddess-like.

"Welcome to my home! I hope you will like it here!" The idea of mom made my heart flip.

"Thank you so much," I said gratefully.

"Of course! You will be part of my family now," she bent down and gave me a big daughter-I-love-you hug that made feel something I hadn't felt before. Belonging.

"So I know you don't really know yourself...........and that's ok because your old self is gone and the new one is here. I just know we are going to be great friends. Sisters?" She said so fast I could barely understand. I like the joy in her voice. It seemed to ring happiness in my ears.

She was young, no more than thirty. I guess she never had to go to college or do anything. She was a happy person though, not fake and plastic as her many luxuries may imply.

"Sisters. What's your name?" I asked.

"You mean I haven't told you yet? Oh Jesus! My name is Anna." Her energy seemed to radiate of her face.

"That's pretty. So um.........I guess I don't have one. Can you help think of one ?" I had something all other kids don't. A choice. I got to decide what I wanted me name to be. I got to decide my style and choose who I wanted to be. It was like I wasn't born. I created myself.

We sat there in silence for a few minutes. Every once in a while her face would light up and her jaw dropped, but then looked at my face and silently decided Nuhuh not gonna fit her. After about eight minutes, which could also translate to eight years of blank-mindedness, she almost screamed.

"I'VE GOT IT!!! I'VE GOT IT!!! I don't know exactly what but something with a "C". I mean you know something kinda short but not too short. Like your nickname can be C-C!!!"

"You mean like Celia?" I replied.

"EXACTLY!! What do you think?"

I thought it was beautiful. I liked it, it was pretty but not to princessy. It had a kind of ring to it.

I looked in one of the various mirrors hanging among the walls. I examined my facial features and expression. I hate to admit, but I was really good-looking. My figure was almost spot on, and my hair was gold, literally gold. It shined in waves of light. If eyes could be pure ice, then I had cold eyes. They lightened when I smiled, but just looking at someone could pierce straight through them. It kind of scared me. But either way I was pretty content with how I looked.

I made sure that the name fit me in physical appearance, it definitely seemed to fit. My personality? I have no idea. I didn't really know myself yet. But I was determined to find out.

Me and Anna talked for an hour. She explained pop culture, what bands to like, which ones not to. Which celebs were dating who, why and how many marriages they had had. That I had to like the Imagine Dragons or I couldn't live. What was cool to wear, and the monograms were everywhere.

She then realized that I had to have a middle name. After much deliberation, we ended up with Kate. On the note that it sounded good next to Celia. She told me her last name was Brooklyn. So my new name was Celia Kate Brooklyn. Not bad, I guessed.

We also talked about this certain brand of work out wear called lulu lemon. I don't know why it was so special, but she had spasm talking about it. She said we had to have a shopping spree there and she also reminded me I would die if I didn't have it. Again. Which was funny, I don't have it and I'm still alive. But I get the joke, sort of.

We talked on and on like we already knew each other, which I could tell made her happy. It made me think how much I needs her too.

"Okay," she said, "I knew this is crazy, but I really like you, and I just know we are going to be great sisters. Great family. But would you mind if I adopted you? So you don't have to leave at the end of the foster system. I don't think that's fair to you, and to me you are just so adorable." I almost cried but hid it under my laugh.

"I understand if you don't want to, and I k ow this is all so sudden, I just think it would be great," she added.

"Of course!!" I had a family. Someone who would care for me. Not just be my guardian, but my friend. Something that I couldn't pass up. She gave me a big hug and said "I'm so glad."

I could belong.