Song-Inspired Stories

Home by Philip Phillips

I'd always had a difficult life. My parents didn't want me, but gave birth to me anyway. I was tossed between foster homes and hospitals my whole childhood.

I was born with a neurological disorder. Schizophrenia to be exact. Since my childhood was so dramatic with being unwanted by every family who fostered me, my schizophrenia was a very bad case.

I would have schizophrenic attacks while I was sleeping, eating, showering. Mainly anything normal.

I hated it so much. So did the doctors and foster parents. I was put on medication, which dulled everything. It didn't help it die down, just dulled my senses to it all. I was 7.

After being put in an orphanage as they waited for a spot to open at a foster home, a couple walked in.

I didn't pay any mind. They probably wanted a normal kid. Not a freakshow like me. I didn't expect one of the couple to walk straight to the clerk and begin talking with her while the other walked to me.

I was small, like 4 or 5 year old small, even if i was turning 8 soon. I looked young, and with my dulled senses from the medication, I acted even younger.

The person began to play with me, not talking yet. They spoke after a solid five minutes, asking for my name.

"I can't remember... my most recent one... it was.. Darren..?" I muttered, looking at my toys as I thought about the past few months.

The person looked crestfallen, like their hopes were just crushed. Then they cracked a smile.

"How about Ezra? Do you like that?" They asked, catching my attention.

"Are you another foster parent? They said I had to wait until a new spot opened up..." I replied, a slight glint of sadness in my eyes.

They shook their head. "No, I'm not a foster parent. My husband and I are looking to adopt. And I think we just found who." They smiled warmly at me.

  I only lost hope. They had someone else in mind. I looked back down at my toys, before I felt a hand gently ruffle my hair.

  It was the other person in the couple. He had walked over and ruffled my hair.

  "Ready to go, little guy?" He asked, puzzling me a little.

  I tilted my head slightly, confusion filling my eyes. I had not a clue what he had meant, then it clicked.

  "You're adopting me? B-but.. y-you probably w-want a normal k-kid.. not some kid who sees things and hears things..." I began to ramble, being pulled into a hug for the first time in years.

  I immediately went quiet, tears brimming at the bottom of my eyes.

  "Little one, no need to fret. You are perfect to us. No matter your flaws. You are wonderful."

  The next few months were spent with the couple trying to gain legal guardianship over me. It took a while, but soon enough I was their son.

  I never felt alone, due to my schizophrenia but also not alone in a comforting way with my new parents. They would always say the same thing before I fell asleep at night.

  "You think you are alone, but we're gonna make this place your home." It always made me happy. And I slept soundly at night.