“Careful with this,” he cautioned Eric, “it’s hot.”

“Okay.”

The two sat in silence for a moment, then Kayden broke it. “What’s up, bud? Got something on your mind?”

Eric set his mug on the end table. “Um. What did you mean when you told Mrs. Laje you’ll never see me again?”

Kayden’s heart beat loud in his ears. He didn’t want to lie. “It’s just, once you leave, you don’t come back. I don’t think we’ll see each other again after today.”

Eric’s eyebrows scrunched together, his little, blue eyes narrowed trying to come up with a reply. He ended up with, “No.”

“No?” Kayden laughed. “What do you mean, ‘no’?”

“I just mean no. I’ll ask my new family if I can visit. You’ll see.”

Unable to crush the look of happiness on his face, Kayden didn’t push. He’d rather Eric have a good last day than confuse him with talk of never seeing each other again. “Are you excited to live with your new family?”

“Yes! They said they have a bird! I saw pictures!”

Kayden smiled. He kept their conversation light, sticking to topics he knew Eric loved. Inside, he was angry. Why couldn’t he stay in touch with the children who left? Why did he have to say goodbye?

It was always like this.

No one stayed.

Except him.

There were tears in Eric’s eyes when it was time to say goodbye. However, they soon disappeared when he left with his new family, too young to understand he wouldn’t see Kayden again.

Watching Eric leave from the hallway window on the second floor; Kayden allowed his tears to fall. Just once he’d like to stay in touch with one of the children leaving. When he asked Mrs. Laje if he could at least write to Eric, she said no. Personal information was private. It was only when she got really angry that he stopped asking.

More tears spilled from his eyes.

If only he could get adopted.

He didn’t know why he was never chosen. His strange eyes weren’t that repulsive. Sure, he had one blue eye and one green eye…but that didn’t label him a bad person.

He looked out the window and cried as Eric was taken away to his new home. He absentmindedly touched the puckered scar on his chest, wishing for the comforting arms of another.

Everything changed the moment he was put under Mrs. Laje’s care.

No one was listening to him.

No one was hearing him.

How was he supposed to accept what happened if the people around him kept pushing him away?

Two Years Later

Kayden stood at the hallway window, watching as another couple left the orphanage. His gaze narrowed and he scoffed. Why did he even bother? It didn’t change his situation. All the children he was familiar with had been replaced. None of them seemed excited to be around him.

Probably because he no longer tried being friendly to them. After losing his one and only friend, he gave up trying. He no longer saw the point. Not when they always left and he was forced to stay behind.

He waited and endured two more years under Mrs. Laje’s promise that he would eventually find a family to take him in and love him. When the first year passed after Eric left, Kayden had been hopeful. He wasn’t much older than the little guy. But when the second year passed and Mrs. Laje became more hesitant in her promises, he knew she had been lying from the moment she allowed him to stay all those years ago.

Kayden thought he knew the reason why. His past wasn’t something he liked thinking about, or acknowledging. It had been easier to deal with when Eric was around. He was unfiltered sunlight, brightening those around him, and made it impossible for Kayden to dwell on his negative emotions.

He feared what would happen if he continued staying under Mrs. Laje’s care. She wasn’t a cruel person and did her best to keep him and the other children safe and happy. She often stayed up late into the night, taking care of paperwork and making last minute phone calls to reserve meetings for potential matches.

Kayden admired her for this. He forgave her for being too busy after seeing how much work she put in to keep the orphanage running. But he couldn’t look past the fact he had been lied to for seven years.

No one was ever going to adopt him. He knew that much. His past was still an issue. He couldn’t change it, so why was he forced to suffer?

Why did Mrs. Laje lie? Why didn’t she tell him the truth? He might have gotten angry, but he’d eventually calm down after the initial shock wore off. Wasn’t that better than lying to him for so long?

Kayden was leaving tonight.

He decided this was the best course of action after his last argument with Mrs. Laje. He couldn’t stand it anymore.

Kayden had a dream. A dream to be in a position to adopt as many unwanted children as possible while providing a safe home for them. He felt hollow inside every time Mrs. Laje or Mr. Heart left before finishing a conversation because they were too busy, and saw the empty looks on the other children’s faces whenever play time was interrupted.

The orphanage gave them a chance; but reality was cruel.

He wanted to change that.

 ***

“Tell me what’s wrong, Kayden.”

“Nothing.”

“I know it’s not nothing,” Mrs. Laje countered. “How many times have you misbehaved this week? First, it was not waking the children up on time for school and now I’m hearing you haven’t been doing your chores. I don’t get it. You’re the most responsible child here. Help me understand.”

“There’s nothing to understand! I hate this place! Ever since I came here, I’ve been forced to take care of the younger children. You never let me take a break. By the time I finish taking care of them, chores, and my homework, it’s lights out.” Kayden’s voice increased with every word. “I’m not allowed to bring my friends over and I can’t leave to see them. It’s not fair. What did I do to deserve this?” His voice cracked.

Mrs. Laje adjusted a stack of files on her desk. “Kayden, you know why I can’t allow you the same freedoms as the other children.”

“No, I don’t! My doctor said I’m fine. There’s nothing wrong with me, Mrs. Laje. I’m not broken.” His words echoed in the silence that followed.

“Kayden, it’s not that simple.”

“But—”

“No buts. We’ve been over this countless times before. I won’t hear any more of this. Do you understand?”

His chest felt heavy. “Yes.”

How could it turn out this way? His doctor told him last week he was cleared for adoption. That he had always been cleared for adoption. What changed? Why did Mrs. Laje prevent him from finding a home? A family? He wanted a mom and dad, and maybe a few siblings if he was lucky. He didn’t care about where they lived or how big their house was. All he wanted was a family to love him. A place to be safe. Someone to love.

“Good. I know you feel like it isn’t fair, but you’ll thank me in the future.” Mrs. Laje handed him a tissue. “I’ll give you the evening off. Mr. Heart got here a few minutes ago. He’ll take care of your chores tonight.”

Kayden hurried out of her office, wiping away treacherous tears. Shame filled him. Was his past the reason behind everything? Could he not escape that nightmare, even for a second?

 ***

A few hours after curfew, Kayden snuck out of the orphanage into the cold, December night. Snow started falling from the moonlit sky.

A smile stretched across his face.

He loved winter.

Kayden took a deep breath, inhaling the cold and feeling free as a bird. His future was uncertain and he had nowhere to go. 

It was the greatest feeling in the world.

He looked around, taking in the empty street. Most people were inside their homes at this hour, safely tucked away from the snow and biting wind. Only the streetlights and bare tree branches offered any form of life beyond himself.

After doing a lot of research, Kayden settled on making his way to St. Hue, a tiny town nestled on the outskirts of Castlebrooke.

He saved his meager allowance so he could buy brown colored contacts. He figured if he lied, and no one saw his natural eye color, he could get away with hiding out in St. Hue for a while. At least until he made his next move.

Kayden’s ultimate goal was Addleton. It was a large city which made it easier to hide in plain sight. He’d—

His freedom came to a crashing halt when he ran into a man carrying a steaming cup of coffee.

“Whoa there. Slow down,” the man exclaimed. His voice was warm and soothing, like the comfort of a blanket.

Kayden glanced up and met kind, brown eyes. Something inside him shattered. He burst into tears and clung to this stranger like his life depended on it. The sound of his voice, paired with the winter night, reminded him of better days before he learned he would never be wanted again.

The forty-year-old man abandoned any attempt at cleaning his clothes as he wrapped reassuring arms around Kayden. “Shh…it’ll be okay. Let me take you home.” The boy didn’t look much older than twelve.

Sobs tore their way free from Kayden’s throat at hearing his words. He felt so alone. “I-I—don’t hav—a—ome…”

The man glanced up at the orphanage, and understanding filled him. He hesitated for only a moment. “What would you say to me giving you a home?”

Kayden pulled back in surprise, meeting his gaze.

“My wife and I have been trying for years to have a child. We even bought a big house when we married for the sole purpose of raising a family. I don’t see any difference in adopting you,” he explained with shining eyes. “Is it too late to speak with your caretaker?”

Kayden blinked back tears, trying hard to squash his sudden hope. After so long…it couldn’t be possible. He must be dreaming. “But…don’t you need to interview me?”

The man smiled and shook his head. “You aren’t furniture or a future employee of mine. I’d like for you to join my family if you want. You don’t even have to call us mom and dad.”

It might have sounded like a strange thing to suddenly get the idea to adopt a complete stranger; but it wasn’t something the man took lightly. He and his wife had been talking for years about adopting. He didn’t see why their future son couldn’t be a teenager.

Kayden flashed a small grin and hugged the man. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“My name is Roth Anders and my wife’s name is Susan. I’m sure she’ll love you no matter what. What’s your name?”

Panic caused Kayden’s mouth to run dry, but he managed to answer in a trembling breath. “Kayden. Kayden Smith,” he stammered.

Roth met the boy’s eyes with a knowing look.

Kayden’s heart beat loud in his ears. He knew this was too good to be true. His name was like poison in this town.

“Well, Kayden, let’s get going,” Roth grinned, patting him on the shoulder. “We’ve a long night ahead of us.”

A heavy weight fell from Kayden’s chest and he followed his future with a fresh spark of hope.

He couldn’t believe it.

A miracle in the middle of a snowy night.