Unwanted

01

The next day, the orphanage held a camping trip for children above five years old and below fifteen. Nicolas would whine and insisted on not going. He read a book about forest and he didn't like the thought of insects and bugs who'll pester you when you get to bed or how they needed to set up a tent and collect branches of trees for lighting up a fire.

Of course it wasn't just Nicolas who whined about not going. The sisters have no choice but to tell some none realistic lies about how great forest is. Like how the trees would move and greet them or how unicorns would come at night to bring them a jar of candies.

Instead of being fascinated, Nicolas found it truly creepy and scary. He imagined being greeted by the moving trees that will actually eat them up when night comes. Or how the unicorns actually brought a jar of eyeballs that was supposed to be candies.

The idea was quite absurd but who knows.

And that's when he remembered what Minen told him. He contradicted what the sisters told him and made his own judgement. The man was right. Again.

After coming to the forest, he concludes he was right. There were bugs ang insects even inside their tent and he can't get to sleep comfortably. He was also right about not believing what the sisters told them about the trees and unicorns. The children, other than Nicolas, expected the trees to move when they started walking in the forest which in the end was not true at all. Even waited past their bed time just to check if the unicorns would come with candies in jars but no one came. Not even a shadow.

Then just as when they just came back after a long night in the forest that Nicolas was called by some head sister in her office.

It was a great news! Someone wanted to adopt him.

But that would mean he can no longer go to the river anymore or he couldn't meet the man anymore. His soon to be parents told him they were living in the city far from the orphanage and the river. And that they would get him tomorrow morning.

He is happy. After seven years of staying in the orphanage at last, someone wanted to adopt him. He couldn't wish for more.

But they said they would change Nicolas' name. He got confused.

"From now on your name is Edward. Edward Mendez." The woman in white said.

Nicolas couldn't talk. He looks beside him, where the head sister is sitting and she just smiled like she was approving what the woman in white said.

That made Nicolas' forehead crease into confusion. Shouldn't a mother responsible for her child's name? Surely the woman is a lady but she isn't Nicolas' mother. Well, they would adopt him so technically she's his mother now.

Minen is right again. Everyone has the power to name him. But why?

He's confused and he needed to talk to Minen right now. He needs answers and Minen is the right one and is capable of answering him without lying.

Nicolas know that Minen might not be in the river, he is even sure that he can never met Minen again. But at least he could reminisce what they talk about when they were there.

Maybe if he goes there, he can be calm.

Surely because he wasn't feeling good at everything that had happened. He's annoyed and confused at the same time.

He is lost.

That's what he thought so he abruptly stood and ran away not minding the calls and shouts from the head sister and his soon to be mother.

For the moment, he wasn't thinking of anything other than the river.

I'm scared.

I'm confused.