The Diamond Family : Book 1, The Diamond Trilogy

Chapter 1

I sit on our aged windowsill, glaring out at distant fences and rusted play equipment. Grim grass covers around the building with faded evergreen peeking around. The bitter sunlight drying my damp hair. Today was one of those days I would rather breath in wretched air, then inhale the fumes of artificial lemon scents.

Elisa's eyes were wide as she hums to a soft lullaby her mother used to sing to her. I watched as she folds worn to thread clothes and sweeps our creak floor with bliss. Elisa was like the glow in a dark room, or the sun peeking through thick storm clouds. As she swayed to the hum of her song, her brown curls twirl off her shoulders. Even in her beaten-down clothes, her sun-kissed skin manages to shine. Elisa is my roommate, but she is more like my sister.

Some of the visitors who have came to look for intenders to be their children believe Elisa and I are in fact sisters. We do both have brown hair, soft rosy cheeks, doll-like faces, and green eyes. While my eyes are a sage green, hers are like the morning mowed grass.

Although Elisa and I might look the same our dreams are far different. Elisa dreams for a family who will love her without question. However, I dream to live on the top of a tower in New York City. I want to sit with a life full of money with no worries, no people to trouble me, and alone with my thoughts and success. My dream will soon be manageable in two more slow-paced years. I'm sixteen and to leave this horrific orphanage you have to be eighteen.

I have been in this orphanage since I was eleven, shortly after Elisa. This orphanage specializes in just girls. Most of the time you are here because your parents were high on drugs, maybe they were too young to take care of you, or they died leaving you with no more family. My mother was always wasted over a night of imbibing on intoxicating drinks too deeply, swallowing her problems down whole.

I learned at an early age to offend for myself. Simply by doing my schoolwork, walking to the store to buy groceries, or making sure my mother didn't do anything stupid. While normal kids were motivated by parents to complete hours of schoolwork, I on the other hand, was motivated by a single dream. I was always smart and hardworking when it came to school, so I was a natural at getting high scores. Sadly, my work was wasted when my mother soon threw me in here calling me a worthless pest. Still hopeful, I never gave up my love for learning, just carrying it around in a borrowed book.

My father on the other hand was a stud who left before I was born, too incapable to deal with the responsibilities when it comes to a child. Elisa always told me one day my father would come and take me home, giving me proper love. I never took her words to heart, always too afraid of dealing with the rejection of having a family again.

I never understood why Elisa was never adopted out. She's a kind soft beauty who shines brighter than this dark place. Something people would only dream to have in a child. Although Elisa has hopeful energy to one day get a family, I'm afraid it only seems to be an impossible achievement. Most of us don't get adopted out when we're past fourteen. But I'll never burn out Elisa's passionate fire by telling her this.

Elisa notices my staring. Her brows knitted together in concern. She frowns as she sits next to me on the old window sill.

"What's wrong, Elma?" She asks sweetly. I let my thoughts wash away. For now, I have to make the best of the things I have left to hold tight.

I signed, facing her with a lame grin. "Just lost in thought, I suppose."

She shakes her head. "Come on, we better get to the Gathering Room."

She hops off the sill, skipping towards the paint-chipped door. I follow her in suit grabbing a book Taylor let me borrow. The hallway is old and narrow. Windows let bits of light seep in, casting a shadow of lines. As a kid, I always felt small. The place crept up on me, narrowing me between the walls. Rotting me away for years, waiting for that taste of freedom.

The Gather Room is always filled with stirring girls, either doing chores or deep in a conversation. To my surprise, most of the girls are giggling, almost giddy. Elisa seems thrilled to find out any new gossip. I, on the other hand, am too occupied to get to the next chapter of my book. Elisa with an ear to ear smile bolts to an olive-skinned girl; named Lauren. I walk up too, curious.

"What's with the giggling?" Elisa asks, giggling herself.

Lauren's eyes turn to confusion. "You haven't heard?"

Another girl sitting beside her gushes, "I thought every orphan in the world knew!"

Elisa's eyes light up, her grin growing even bigger as she squeals. "They're going to be choosing an orphan!"

I still confused asked, "What choosing? We just had a couple looking yesterday."

All three girls look at me like I was absurd. Asking the same question with their shooting glares. How do you not know?

"No, not that choosing, Elma! The Diamond Family's choosing!"