Hi! This is a part of a much longer series I plan on writing, hopefully you enjoy it! Stay tuned for more stories....
CH.1
The sun peeked over the houses in the distance and splashed bright lovely light against the back wall of the bedroom. Normally, the morning would arrive alone, its beauty unseen and untouched by a single soul in the bedroom of many beds and shelves. Today however, it had company.
Dawn sat on the top bunk of her bed anxiously. Today was the day. She was finally 18. She had always feared this moment would come too soon, and it came before anyone could even blink. She wasn't ready to be alone.
She quietly got off her bed so as to not wake the other girls in the room. Growing up without privacy and safety taught Dawn to be stealthy, and moving around at night was much easier if she knew how to be quiet. She went about her morning routine with anticipation and anxiety floating in her head. She was to see her social worker that day to discuss what her next steps were. The simple answer: She hadn't gotten that far just yet.
CH.2
For as long as Dawn could remember she had always been a foster child. There was never anyone to kiss her scrapes and cuts, there was never an adult who had made her feel safe. Dawn could only imagine those things with her real family. Her mother was a drug addict who cared far more about her next fix than her children, her father dead in a tragic car accident. There would be no one to celebrate this day with.
Well....except for Amy.
Amy had been Dawn's social worker for several years. She knew some of Dawn's darkest fears and had always promised to keep her safe and to help her find a path in this world. Dawn trusted Amy more than any other person she had met, Amy had never led her astray. But soon Dawn would lose Amy too, and then what would happen to her?
Dawn looked at herself in the mirror, trying so hard not to stare at herself. She had all the traits of a beautiful woman. A sweet round face, warm and rich dark brown skin, curly thick hair that twisted and coiled around her face to frame her gorgeous smile. Yet she felt so empty. She had never known who these features came from. More than anything else, she yearned for family.
Dawn arrived at Amy's office and was greeted with smiles and warm hugs. Amy had always celebrated her successes with her.
"How're you feeling now, grown up? Got any fun plans for tonight?" Amy asked while looking down at her laptop. "None. I'll be busy trying to figure out my financial aid paperwork. It's frustrating. I just hope I get the scholarship to the program in Pennsylvania. It's my only hope in being able to afford any of this." Dawn sighed. Amy smiled at her, her green eyes glinting in the light from the window. "You need a break and some fun. After today your file will be closed with our office and I won't be your case manager anymore, but that doesn't mean you can't be my friend! Let me take you out to dinner tonight, I have some good news to share as well." Dawn hesitated but eventually relented, relaxing into the comfort of being seen and loved by Amy. "At least she cares", Dawn thought.
As Dawn arrived at home, she got a text from Amy that read:
Hey you! Pack an overnight bag just in case, I might not be up to driving back tonight. I hope you don't mind."
Dawn quickly responded:
"Hey! Yeah, no problem."