It's Not You

“It’s not you, sweetie pie,” her mom whispered as she climbed the stairs to the orphanage, hand intertwined with the little girl’s, “It’s me, and Mama has to go away now…”

~*~*~*~*~*~

From an early age, Genova Gardner’s life was rough and full of disappointment. After years of loving and adoring her baby girl like a mother should, Genova’s mother abandoned her daughter on the steps of a nearby orphanage and never looked back. Gen’s social worker told her that it wasn’t her fault that her mom left, that she was an addict and she couldn’t care for a little girl. It didn’t mean Genova wasn’t loved.

Nearly two dozen bad foster homes and six years later, Genova finds herself living with the Hartleys, and at first, it seems like a dream. Yet, the longer Gen lives with the Hartleys the clearer it becomes that this is no dream, but rather a nightmare. With all the bad things surrounding her life, lurking in the shadows around every corner just waiting for her, Gen begins to question whether or not it is her.

***This is a prequel story for the character, Genova Gardner, in the ten part collaboration, DiAngelo's School for the Intelligent, which follows the members of the club, All For One.***

***This story is set THREE years prior to DSI.***