A New Chance for Lilly

Chapter 1

Lilly POV

Growing up in the system sucks. My 18th birthday can't come fast enough. I've been a ward of the state since I was 2. My mom, dad, and I were driving home from somewhere and our car crashed. I dont remember it, Its just what ive been told. My mom's family kicked her out when they found out she was dating my dad. My dad had also lost his parents young. He too had to age out of the system. I guess my grandparents didn't want anything to do with me, so they told the caseworker who called them to put me in the system. And well here I sit. 13 years old, trying to make my way through middle school which is extremely hard when you don't stick around places long. I dont know how many foster homes ive been in. This time I landed in a group home. Ive been here the longest ive ever been anywhere. Ive been in this home for going on 3 years now. I know i wont ever get a family so I just wish and pray that I age out before something bad happens to me ya know.

Carmen POV

"SAM COME ON! We need to go if we are going to make it on time." "Im coming babe, im putting my shoes on!" Sam leans over and kisses me. We are headed to a group home full of kids. Our idea is to adopt the one who has been in the system the longest. I have a feeling this is going to be one of the best days of our lives. We get in the car and head out. Its about a 45 minute drive to Wichata. We live in a little city called Oxford. We have about an hour until our meeting.

Time lapse. 1 hour later

We pulled up to this house that looked like a normal everyday house, but out front it had a sign out front that says "Big Hearts Home For Kids". Sam comes around and opens my door. I look at him and take a deep breath. We hold hands and walk up to this door. When we leave here, we will have the child we have been praying for.

We walk up to the door and knock. A nice lady comes to the door. "Hello can I help you?" "Yes, we are the Raineys, we have a meeting with Allison." "Oh come on in. Ill let her know your here." The lady shows us to an office type room. "Allison will be right with you." "Thank you so much." We sat there for what seemed like hours but was actually only like 5 minutes. Then this lady walks in.

Allison's POV

Jessica just came into the kitchen to let me know that there was a couple here to see me. CRAP I CANT BELIEVE I FORGOT! I rush down to my office and walk in. "Hello, I'm Allison Mitchelle. What can I do for you fine folks?" Well Allison, my wife here and I want to adopt the child that has been in the system the longest." "Really? Thats so sweet. Let me look at the files, but im pretty sure I know exactly who has been here the longest." I look at Lilly and Max's files. Lilly has been in the system 4 years longer than Max which i knew, but I didn't want it to look to ovous. "Here we go. This is Lilly. She has been in the system sense she was 2 years old." "Wow really?" "Yes unfortanately. Poor gal cant catch a break. I know shes been here for about 3 years. But everyone passes her up." "What can you tell us about her?" "Why dont I just let you look at her file. I need to check on lunch and Ill be back in about 10 minutes." "Sounds good Thank you."

Carmen's POV

That was a bit weird, but whatever. Sam and I start looking over Lilly's file. It's a pretty big file too. As we were reading it, we noticed a pattern of things. Every year around early March, she started having night terrors. She also wet the bed more often than not. Then we got to a page from a therapist.

'Lilly says she still wants to be a baby. I told her that it's not ok to be like that. That she is too old. I've noticed that she talks more and more like a baby when she is here. I'm referring her to another psychologist who specializes in this sort of thing.'

"Sam did you see that?" "Yea babe, what do you think?" "I think we need to meet her. I feel like we could love her no matter what her differences are." "You read my mind honey." Allison walked in a few minutes later. "Allison, we would like to meet Lilly if that's ok." "Sure let me go find her real quick." A few minutes later, Allison came back with this sweet little girl who looked like she's been through hell! "I'll leave you here to talk."
C: carmen S: Sam L: Lilly