Another life ~English version~

Chapter 1

I hate this place more than I could hate myself. It is not easy for a sixteen year old teen to grow in an orphanage, mainly if she is careless. My name is Joyce, and as you already know, I am sixteen. I can’t wait to be eighteen so I can leave this horrible place that brings me bad memories. Last night Mrs.  Gridlon, who for her malice does not even deserve to be a director, told me that today I should’ve been packing my bags because a family decided to adopt me.
And that’s exactly what I am doing now; packing my bags while putting the few clothes that I have and obviously I won’t forget my teddy bear without a hand. When I was a little girl Mrs. Gridlon found me next to the orphanage with my teddy bear. I was only four.
I don’t know anything about my biological parents. It’s difficult to live without them but it’s even more difficult to accept the fact that abandoned you. When I finish packing my stuff I will go to the bathroom to get myself ready to be as presentable as possible. This was one of Mrs. Gridline advices. I brush my wavy hair due to the braid and I put some eyeliner and mascara, just to highlight my clear eyes. I leave the large room’s bathroom and walk by my entire “roommate’s” bed. I would like to not define them as roommates because we almost talk to each other. I walk to the door. I turn around for the last time to look at the bed that supported me during my tears and my mood swings. I push this thought away to reflect on the new life that awaits me. Quickly I reach the director’s building and with trembling hands I knock on the wooden door. When I enter, I see Mrs. Gridlon on her usual place, behind the desk and in front of her are standing a man and a woman on their forties. The lady is wearing an elegant red dress and high black heels. You can clearly see that they are very rich. The thing that mainly got me is that the lady has as blond hair as me. I do not think anything with this thing in common, also because not only I do have blonde hair.
- “Joyce, you heard me?” The screams of Mrs.Gridlon make me get up and I hurry to answer her.
- “Yes, I mean no, I…” I am looking for an excuse but my lack of quickness forbids it to me and therefore the lady with the red dress intervenes.
- “Sit down, darling. We were saying that we are going to be your new adoptive parents and I promise you that we will make sure you to live anything that you have missed in your childhood, right Robert?” She moves her gaze from mine to her husband’s waiting for his answer.
- “Yes honey”. He looks at me with a sincere smile which consequently makes me realize on the importance of parents that I never had.
After various recommendations from Mrs. Gridlon finally I greet her with a simple goodbye. Honestly, I believe that she does not even deserve a look from my side. I go out with Robert and Margot. I found out her name when she introduced herself a little while ago.  We go along a short stretch of road and then reach the parking lot.
- “Get in darling, now we are going home and you will meet your brother Josh, he has your same age.”
Robert told me with a smile that highlights his few wrinkles around the eyes. I just nod. I start to like this man, and I like the lady too. The driving in the car does not worry me. Last night the fear and the anxiety did not let me sleep, so I decided to lay my head on the Porches window and fight against sleep. But, while I sleep I dream of a girl in the woods that is playing with her teddy bear.
- “Joyce, wake up sweetie, we are at home “says a sweet and comfortable voice. I feel soft hands gently shaking my shoulders.
I open my eyes and I do a little jump when I see the closeness between me and Margot. I get off the car and I look around, I notice a big white house. I follow Margot and Robert with my bags in my hand to my new home while I keep walking to the main door. After a lot of years finally I feel reborn and I can finally consider myself as a girl with a family and a house. I am amazed when I see a gigantic pool with beach seats nearby. I hurry up to reach my parents. From now on I want to call them this way because they both deserve it. I enter and I am not surprised at the precious furniture with which the house, I mean the Villa is furnished. The living room is full of pictures hanging on the walls. In one of them there are smiling parents who are hugging a small black-haired child. I guess that child is their son they told me about earlier. I shift my gaze to a picture in which there is a bald baby girl sleeping blissfully. I can recognize the gender of the baby trough the pink pacifier in her mouth.
- “Hey, aren’t you curious to see your brother?” scared me a male voice from behind me while I was really focused on looking at the pictures.
I turn around and I see a tall boy dressed in all black clothes with a cap that let his blonde hair fall on his forehead. My blood freezes with fright, then I turn around to a cute boy. I just hope he is as smart as his parents.
- “Oh, right. My name’s Joyce” I stammered with a little embarrassment since I’ve never been talking alone with a boy.
- “Well Joy, how old are you? Let  me guess..” he stares at me carefully to recognize my age and a minute later his eyes shine and then he smiles saying “sixteen”
- “That’s right, nice!” I say even if I doubted he had already known by his parents.
He claps his hands and says:
- “I know that I am a genius. Anyways, nice to meet you. My name’s Josh and I am eighteen.” We talk and laugh for a while. I am very happy because I feel comfortable with my new family.
In the living room comes Margot and interrupts us:
- “Well, I can say that you two are doing great together, huh?” I think that she’s going to have a facial paralysis due to the smiling.
- “Josh, would you show the way at Joyce to her new room?” she says before she goes in the kitchen.
- “I will right now” answers her son with a big smile.
Josh shows me the way to my new room that is right in front of his, then he leaves me alone to put my clothes in the closet. After I have had dinner, I unpack my bag and right when I am falling asleep I hear someone breaking in my room. Shit.