were round and bright, almost too big for her small face, the kind that seemed to pull you in the moment they met yours and refused to let go until you l

sed laugh. Her hair fell long and blond down her back, always a little wild by evening no matter how neatly Sister Ann braided it that morning. And for a girl her age, she stood tall,

iberately stayed an hour later than usual in the woods. "Good afternoon, ma'am," she greeted politely and made her way to her

ened to come back late today." Mother Superior said to an absentmin

trying so hard to hit this jackpot, said wi

Barnes smiled kindly and took it ba

determined to leave the orphanage today no matter what it took. Mrs. Barnes s

today. Did you see how Mrs. Barne

ne more, and would adopt her instea

y. All the children were eager to know who'd be chosen, and the tension only grew as thirty minutes passed with the adults still shut inside the of

or called, clapping her hands twice for

at once, every chi

Mother Superior said, "to adopt no

iana's head snapped up, eyes wide,

d Juliana's whole face lit up befor

e she forced it back into place, refusing to let anyone see how much she hated sharing this mo

s still in her room changing out of her dirtied cl

lap like she wasn't quite sure how to say it. "The Barnes family... they

or maybe questions, but Elaine only nodded slowly, like she was letting the

laine aske

her into a tight hug, the kind that s

poor job of hiding their envy. Some of the younger ones waved. Most just watched, quiet and still, the way you watch something you know you'll never have. Mother Superior kissed both girls on the forehead at the gate and told them to be good and

iveway lined with tall, trimmed hedges, the kind of house that looked like it had been standing there for generations rather than built. Its stone walls,showing how long it's been in existence, and the windows made the whole place glow faintly

e this. Elaine said nothing, only stared up at the house with those wide, unreadable eyes of hers,