If I say we hug each other for half hour I'm not exaggerating. I know very well it's been just a few days since everything happened, but it's felt like weeks since we last saw each other, since I left home thinking it would just be another charity. But she's back at my side and since my father's death, she's been the person I lean on. Nora is not just my best friend and family, she's my pillar. I feel like I can properly breathe now that she's with me.

"Oh Blanca," she mumbles in my hair, pulling back just enough to look me in the eyes. "I was so scared. When the news..." Nora shakes her head, fighting back tears at the memory. I use that chance to wipe out my own memories.

"I know, it's okay." I try to reassure her, rubbing her arms in a soothing action.

"Don't ever do that to me again."

"Not that I was planning on it," I add sarcastically and it only gets me a smack in my arm. "Ouch! I was just cleared up today. Careful with the patient."

"You idiotic fool, don't make those comments when I'm emotionally unstable."

"Mianhae," I apologise in Korean, giving her my best smile that she reluctantly replies.

"Blanca," Samantha speaks then, reminding me are not alone. "Who is she?"

"She's my friend. Her name is Nora," I introduce easily and see her tilting her head.

"Nan Clarisse said you don't remember anything but your name, and just your first name. Do you remember now?" the little girl asks innocently and I widen my eyes in panic when I realise the mistake I've made. I totally forgot I also have to pretend I just remember my name in case these kids get interviewed when I go back. We need to keep the story constant.

"Um... not that but... um..." I look at Nora with panic in my eyes, mentally collapsing in this moment.

"We meet at the hospital. They sent me to look after her and help her recover her memories. It's nice to meet you. You don't mind I'm here?" Nora explains, probably knowing what to say after talking about it with Louise back at home. I just nod along, as if I knew all this already.

"I don't mind, but Liam and Danny over there have bad personalities," Samantha accuses, pointing behind her back, to the corner where the two kids are spying on us.

"We do not! Stop lying, Sammy!" Danny shouts from his corner, stepping forward just a bit before going back to protect Liam. "And we don't care if she stays if she's good to us."

"I'll be the best," Nora promises. "And because I knew I was coming here, I've brought something for you all. Do you want to see?"

I chuckle when the kids' eyes sparkle with excitement. Even shy little Liam comes rushing when Nora turns to one of the bags and zips it open. Liam is still holding on to Danny's tee as they watch together how Nora takes a few flat presents and hands them each one.

"Can we open them?" Sammy asks then and Nora nods, rising back to her feet to stand next to me, holding my good hand. I've left the crutch on the floor but I can stand without forcing my bad leg, I just get a bit exhausted.

We watch the three kids opening their presents and then hear their screams when they realise Nora has brought for each iPads. I nod approvingly and then look at her suspiciously.

"Bribery, I see? clever move. But what if they get obsessed playing games?" I ask her but she shrugs.

"We talked to Clarisse about it about it. The iPads will be confiscated at certain time of the night and inspected. They come with some interacting and academic games for the younger ones. The older ones will have more autonomy over them but they will still have to hand them and let Clarisse make sure what kind of content they've visited and how they've used it. If it's for only playing and they neglect other things, she'll confiscate them indeterminately."

"Wow," is all I can say, realising it's a good way to keep control over such present, and it actually helps them with school and such.

"Very thorough."

"Have you ever seen me being negligent in anything?" Nora just gives me a side look that says it all.  "I learn from Mum."

"You're the best." I lean a bit on her, finding comfort in her presence as we watch the kids going crazy with their iPads, calling for Clarisse to see the cool present Nora brought them. "Aish, I missed you so much," I add next. When she leans to rest her head on my shoulder, I rest mine on top of hers and close my eyes, grateful that a bit of home is with me now.

"Are you okay? In pain? I hugged you quite tight," Nora asks next, letting go of me just to go for my crutch.

"I'm fine, I can endure this much. To be honest, it's easier to handle the physical pain." My voice grows smaller by the end of the sentence, just as my shoulders round when the waves of grief and confusion wash over me again.

"I know it's hard. For now just make sure to get better and let the police do their job. Mum is making sure it's done in the utmost discretion to keep you protected. And talking about discretion, I need to talk to Clarisse about the confidentiality agreement."

"I'll take you to her. She must be in her office." Nora nods and we take one last look to the kids who are too happy with their new toys to pay us any attention. "Kaja?" I ask in Korean.

"Vamos," she replies in Spanish, so we turn around and walk towards Clarisse's office.

It's always like that between us. We just don't speak one language, we have a mix between Spanish, English and Korean. It's just natural between us how just some phrases come quickly in another language and it's just us, our style, our way. It represents us, how our lives are tangled and how we have embraced the other and her culture. It shows acceptance and respect that we've wanted to learn the other's culture and language instead of just using the one we have in common. There's no better way to avoid misunderstandings, offences and more than by understanding the other person's reality. Cultures are so diverse from one another, so rich and beautiful in their own way. Why judging when you can learn, understand and respect? We've opened to the other and created a deeper bound like that.

Nora is, without a doubt, the most important person in my life right now and I can't thank enough she is with me right now because otherwise I wouldn't know how I to make it through this ordeal.

❅❅❅

The first week in the orphanage is hard, but not as hard as I thought. Yes, the fact Nora is with me has helped enormously, but so have the other kids. They are all very lovely and special in their own way. Aside from Sammy, Danny and Liam, there's another Samantha, and she's nice, and as the older Samantha, she goes for Sam. That's how they can tell which one we are calling. She's ginger with very short curly hair that looks like a cute afro. All her face is covered in lovely freckles she hates but I think suit her.

There's also Catalina, eight-year-old girl, whom I was very surprised to meet when I heard her name. It's a very common name in South American countries, specially in Chile--I'm not lying if I say I've met like twenty Catalinas in my whole life--but she has no idea about her parents. She just came with that name. Clarisse told me the girl was just left at the doorstep of the orphanage with just her name written in a small card and a note asking for help because the mother couldn't take care of her. She looks very Chilean in my opinion, as if she had aboriginal heritage, with very tanned skin, black hair, big brown eyes and mischievous smile. She was very shy at first but now we get along and she's always by my side. She's rather strong and I have to tell her to be careful when she wants to tackle me with her hugs. She's probably my favourite, she's my morochita. It's an endearing term I use with the utmost love.

Then there's Michael, he's seven, with skin darker than Catalina's, impossibly curly black hair and black eyes, and the most contagious smile you could ever expect to see. He's the most joyful of them all, and full of energy. Always running and laughing. He's so kind, always helping me move around and when I sit, he always comes running with a cushion for my leg. He's a little angel.

Brian is eight, he's very quiet, not like Liam in the shy way, but just quiet. Even when he's crying he doesn't make a sound, just tears falling. He's really mature for his age and good at school, although I don't see him really studying, and when he does his homework, he's always the first to finish. He's just brilliant. On his iPad he's always playing chess or sudoku. Once I tried challenging him for a match and he beat me in a minute.

Then there's the teens. Graham, Paul and Derek. The three are eighteen and in their last year of college. As Sammy told me, Graham wants to be a doctor, the other two are doing diplomas in mechanics. They don't really talk much to us and they are always busy studying or hanging out with friends, so we don't really see much of them. They are nice but I guess they are getting ready to leave the Dream House.

I spend most of my time with Nora, Sammy, Danny and Liam, as the others go to school, and we try to help them learn to read or to know their ABC, we are even teaching them a bit of languages so they won't lose their abilities to produce certain sounds.

It's hard getting used to this kind of dynamic when my life was so different before, but I don't hate it. It's slowed down and I'm adjusting to it, but I honestly think I can do it. I like it in here already, I do like the kids and although I'm still practically useless in my condition, I know I'll be able to supply with something in the future.

Nora keeps me up to date with the progress of the investigation through Louise, and with more than a week almost nothing has been accomplished so far.

My recovery is going well. I have doctor's appointment every week and I'm taking my medicine to help with the pain and recovery, to prevent infections after all that internal bleeding. So far so good, I think I'll be fine and once the six weeks are over I'll be good as new. I'll be able to walk without a crutch, that's for sure.

We are in the middle of my second week in the Dream House, having dinner together—Nora and I have taken care of the meals as our way to help. Nora does most of it as I can't move freely, though—when we hear the doorbell ringing before the door opens. We all look at each other because everyone is here, no one is supposed to come.

"I'm home!" Someone screams then, a masculine voice that apparently is familiar because all the kids jump in their chairs. "Did someone miss me?" It's in a singsong tone that is getting closer as the kids struggle to get down  their chairs as soon as possible.

I look at Nora next to me, but she's as confused as I am. So we focus our attention to the entrance of the dinning room to see the little kids running before the person even appears. Clarissa, at the head of the table is chuckling to herself, apparently knowing who's just come.

Then a guy shows up. Early twenties, dark brown hair in like messy waves mostly at the top of his head, not really styled just lying there, white tee, ripped jeans, a military green jacket, plaid tee tied at his hips and timberlands, throwing his backpack to the floor as the kids all tackle him at full force, even the teens are running to greet him.

"Will! Will! You're home!" The cheer and I make this oh sound when I realise. He's the hero of these kids and he's come to surprise them.

My smile is automatic at that. I've heard so much about him already.

When he manages to stand and walk up to the table I can see his face better. He's just a normal guy, brown eyes, pale skin, a bit of a stubble. But even if he's nothing special, he looks oddly familiar. I squint my eyes, thinking where I've seen him before, and he now realises there're more people at the table he takes a look at Nora and I, however his expressions only shows recognition when he sees me.

"Oh!" He exclaims as I keep thinking.

The memory is vague—I still have trouble remembering some things in my life—, but I can see him, with a speaker, outside the office of BEEB Group, shouting at me. Yes! I remember him, the dirty hippie from that day. The activist.

"Oh!" I also exclaim, pointing at him just like he's doing. "The activist!"

"The dead girl!" He says then, confusing me. Well, not only me, everyone.

In shock and bewilderment, I can't do anything but blurting out, "What?"

❅❅❅

Chan! I'm updating from my phone 'cos I'm not home so I can't do much formatting. Anyhow, Will is here and yes, he's the activist from the first episode. How will these two collide? You'll find out from the next episode onwards!

I can't give the dedication now but I'll do it when I can use my own computer.

Bel,xx

~updates every Friday~