THE LOST PIECE

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dy gained a reputation among the other children at the orphanage. No longer just a petty thief, he had become something darker, something that people avoided. He had a way o

child had found his rabbit hanging from the rafters. There was no proof, no way to tie it to Tom, but the look

hey returned, pale and trembling, they refused to speak about what happened. No one knew what Tom did, how he

there w

. Maybe it was because she had never been scared of him, never treated him like some out-of-control monster. She had stuck around when no

, feeding them or just watching them for hours. He would even talk to them. His magical abilities had become much stronger but he never understood how he could talk to snakes. Unlike the other children, the snakes d

re about the games they played. He had his snakes, and he had his tricks, and that was enough for him. They did

Tom didn't need to. He and Sable had shared many silent moments, walking through the woods together or curled up by the edge of the orphanage when n

solated, but it also kept him from ever truly connecting with the

n, she m

~

ok. The soft rustle of paper and the faint smell of old leather from the binding kept her company as she read. She liked books.

ed at the door, her voice gentle but firm. "Hel

ase, unsure of what was going on. She wasn't in trouble, was she? Her

ng her book under her arm and f

king beneath their weight. Helen tried not to look too much into the woman's

way. Mrs. Cole knocked twice before entering,

m one another, smiling down at her. A man, tall with dark hair, and a woman, with soft blonde curls, both w

smooth but warm, as if he had been exp

leaned forward slightly. "We've heard so much about you

unfamiliar energy. Her eyes shifted nervously between the two strangers and

he man continued. "You see, we're

unfamiliar, almost impossible to comprehend. She had heard the other children talk about adoption b

oft, coaxing, as if trying to soothe the confusion Helen mu

her dream that wouldn't come true? The idea of leaving the orphanage, of leaving everything behind, f

elen didn't know if she could trust them. She

to make up her mind, though Helen wasn't sure what decision she w

ance before the man spoke up gently. "We can wait a few days, Helen

rything. The couple smiled one last time before standing up and making their way toward

Helen to her thoughts. For a moment, the room felt heavy with silence. The door clicked s

is a lot to take in," she said gently, sitting down beside her. "But those people are very kind. They hav

wirl in her chest. "But... what about the others? Wh

ruth is, once you turn eighteen, you'll have to leave this place. Legally, you won't be allowed to stay here anymore. And while you're always welcome

ght of leaving behind everything she had known-everything that was familiar-felt overwhelming. S

spered, her voice trembling slight

n. But sometimes, moving forward is the hardest part. You've grown up here, and I know it feels like home, b

hand. "But what if I don't fit in there? What if I do

you, Helen. They wouldn't be here if they didn't. And you'll never know until

he yearning for something more, something beyond the orphanage walls, but the fear

inner turmoil. "Just think about it, okay? You'll always have a place here, but