"IT'S GOING TO be absolutely fine honey. They're all going to love you."
The car sped as the familiar landscape slowly faded to only a memory. With each second that passed, we were slowly leaving behind the only place I ever truly called home. I clutched my chest fearing for the unknown. Uncertainty was something I hated experiencing.

I took a deep shaky breath trying to calm my raging nerves, which had been haywire since the day I got the news. Subconsciously, I found myself twirling the ring on my forefinger, the only precious thing I carried with me always. The feeling of it on my finger gave me peace, like it always did, unfailingly. It gave me the assurance that everything will be alright.

The assurance I needed in that moment. Reaching a momentary decision, I took it off my finger and and put it inside my backpack. Coldness enveloped me the minute it was off. I couldn't ever afford losing it. Looking outside again, I stared as more trees passed by or was it the other way round?

Different animals grazing freely in the distance with their younger ones. I sighed. If only I were one of those animals that their parents didn't abondon. I took another deep breath and sighed again. Loudly. I regretted doing that since it attracted the attention of the two strangers taking me to their home.

"No need to worry too much. You will get used to it eventually." I gave her a tight smile trying not to seem rude. But I had to disagree with what she said. No-one...loved me. They all did pretend as though they did, but in the end, I always ended up alone.

"Yes. You will make new friends at your new school. Who wouldn't want to be your friend anyway?" Everyone. 
Mr Wilson decided to join the party as he chirmed in trying to make me feel better or something. But whatever they were trying to do, made me feel worse about myself. I didn't have the energy to argue with them so I nodded gazing outside.

The only place I ever accepted as my home was hours away. As an unwanted child, I constantly moved from one foster home to the other. It sucks. After a few minutes, I noticed the car slowing down as we approached a gated community. She flashed in a black key card or something and the gate slid open leading into the estate.

They exchanged pleasantries with two security guards in their matchstick box room and I wondered what the fuss was actually about. I couldn't resist picturing myself in handcuffs and on my feet too as I was shamelessly escorted into my prison cell.

In a weird sense, this too was yet another one of the endless prisons I've been instated to. The crimes were always one and the same. The crime of being born unwanted. But just like any other prison I've been in, I wasn't planning on sticking around for long. It mostly wasn't my choice anyway. Mostly. But I did always cause a chain reaction. I was going to do the same even here as well.

The houses we passed were more than just enormous. The Wilsons had to be pretty loaded. It would have piqued my interest if only I weren't drowning in depression. That information didn't calm my wretched nerves one bit.

Mr Wilson pressed a button and my jaw dropped to the floor as he drove in an open gate to my right. I had been too preoccupied to even pay any attention to the route he drove. I couldn't even pinpoint where the main gate actually was. Enormous was quite a small word to describe the monster of a house. Now I was curious. I had never been in such a house, a palace if you will, as this one before. It was like something straight out of a movie.

Horror movie maybe?

These were usually the types of house characters in movies vacationed in, and ended up dying because of some spirit haunting the halls for souls or some shit. I didn't like the thought of that. I was at least grateful there weren't mysterious dark clouds looming overhead with a few lightning strikes here and there.

At least it's not creepy or eerie at all. Hopefully the inside is the same.

He killed the engine and they both turned to stare at me with way too much enthusiasm and goofy smiles plastered all over their faces. I nearly rolled my eyes. I hated it when people pretended they liked me, when in actual fact, they couldn't wait for me to mess up and ship me back to the orphanage. Which I always preferred by the way. I shifted in my seat.

"Are you ready to meet your new siblings?"

I really wanted to roll my eyes this time. If only they knew how many of those I now had. The stupid smiles on their stupid faces made me want to please them somehow, if only a little. So I forced myself to smile and gently nodded. Mrs Wilson beamed with excitement, clapping her hands together like a two year old eating whipped cream for the first time. I rolled my eyes this time.

Let's get this over and done with so I can finally drown my depressed self in the bathtub.

"They're going to absolutely adore you." Mr Wilson assured me helping me with my bags but I knew he was lying.

*******

They hated me. Like I knew they would. It was visible on their faces, the older brother didn't even try to hide it. He had been frowning and scowling at me since the moment they introduced me as their sister. I couldn't resist rolling my eyes at this one though.

There were three of them, one being a little girl. The youngest brother who looked about ten was as confused as ever. He'd frowned like his older brother when they'd made the introductions. His look wasn't of pure hatred or disgust, it was just pure and genuine confusion.

"Sister? How?"

He asked, curiosity marring his face. I sighed at the tedious fit of explaining things to kids. But I fought to understand where he was coming from. It wasn't everyday your parents came home with a seventeen year old girl from out of nowhere and introduced her as your sister, right out of the blue. Not to mention the colour of your skin didn't match theirs. No wonder the kid was confused. I would have been confused too.

The older brother wasn't having it as he continued staring at me with hostility. I also returned the stare, dispassionately gazing at him as if his mere presence annoyed me as well. I was having none of that bullshit.

The little girl was the only one of the bunch who didn't care about anything because she literally threw herself into my legs. I patted her head awkwardly praying she didn't cry for me to pick her up. Small kids made me uncomfortable.

I didn't know what to do with them. I didn't have the best reactions when it came to them. Strange right? Especially for someone who grew up around them. I was glad that they separated older kids from the rest of the other little ones. Otherwise I would have ended up hanging myself with duck tape.

"We talked about this remember?" Mrs Wilson said trying to look stern at his older son which only made her look ridiculous on her face. She was too cheery to scare anyone. I couldn't imagine even a rat running away from her. She seemed like the kind to attract said roaches.

I didn't mean myself, so be careful.

"No, you talked about this. I listened."

Here we go again.

I've been through this numerous times before. The instant rejection that didn't hurt anymore. Some family members never approved and it didn't matter to me. I zoned them out as they bickered among themselves.

"Let's show you to your room so you can settle in. I am sure you're tired from this long journey." I merely nodded happy to be out of there. I didn't feel the need to tell her that I wasn't planning on staying for long that the room had to be called mine. I wasn't falling into that trap. This wasn't my first rodeo. I was now an international champion at this game.

She showed me to my room and I gasped when I saw it. I was grateful that I had my own personal space which meant more privacy, but I didn't like how it looked. But I still looked around appreciating how ridiculously big it was.  It was the best room I've ever been given by far. The room was magnificent, the designs and the furniture were immaculate but I hated the colour scheme of everything. They were horrendous.

"Do you like it? We can prepare another room for you if it's too small for you." She asked nervously.

Oh you're giving me options?

I pushed that task to the back of my mind. Where did it matter where I slept anyway?

"Umm...yeah...sure. It's okay. It's just so... colourful. I hate the colours." She looked at my all black attire and laughed. At least she wasn't offended by my bluntness. I didn't care anyway if she had been.

"You can decorate it the way you want. I wasn't sure what you liked. I hope it's ok?" As delightful as that sounded, I didn't want to be too attached to it for the duration of my stay. No matter how long it was.

"It's okay." I wanted her to leave already so I could finally have my privacy. There was an awkward silence as we both stood there looking around the room. She shifted and I dared her to try and hug me with my eyes. I was never a good recipient of that cringe worthy business. I wasn't interested.

"You can take a nap if you want. I'll wake you up for dinner."

"Sure." She walked to the door and stopped, slowly turning to look at me. She smiled at my scowling face and tapped her fingers on the door. My frown deepened and she chuckled grabbing the doorknob. She had the door partially open, having her legs on either side of the door.

"We're very happy to have you here. I hope you will learn to love us as much as we already love you." Then she nodded her head, her smile still in place before leaving, softly closing the door behind her.

That didn't make me cringe at all. But what the hell did I know. It wasn't like I hadn't been shifted from one foster home to the next. All of them, saying the same thing she said, only to put me back in the system. But then again, what the hell did I know?

******

👋 I hope it's not too late for introductions. I'm Lolozile. An embarrassing nickname my mother gave me. I couldn't get rid of it no matter how many tantrums I threw so I chose to embrace it. Now I'm using it to do something I absolutely adore.

Mmhh okay that was so good.😩😎 I'm thinking of putting it on my profile. Anyway....moving on...

This little thing has been stewing and collecting dust in my notebook. I hope you embrace the characters as much as you embrace me. Let's start this journey together.

Let's Go!!