Fleur POV

Turning 18 for most young adults is a joyous moment in ones life. I wish I could say the same for myself. However, I'm sitting here, with the envelope my "mother" gave me.

Thanks to whatever is in this, I've just learned my whole life has pretty much been a lie.

"Did you give this to me because you don't want me anymore?" I ask?

"Oh my God, no! Sweetie, we love you so much! We just...we wanted you to know the truth, you deserve to know. We love you as if you were our own. You ARE our daughter, Fleur!" my mother says with a slight crack in her voice in the last sentence.

I don't understand why they'd do this to me. I could have gone my whole life without knowing this and been completely okay. At least I think so? I know I've been going through a sort of life long depression...feeling a bit like something in me is missing, but I'm good at pretending to be okay. At least I feel I should be okay. I have a pretty normal and privileged life.

Maybe they could see the sadness in me eyes. Maybe I'm not as great at covering my emotions.

"Petal..." my dad says in a soft tone. He knows that nickname always brings a blush to my cheeks. It's too cute not to. "You are everything to us. You have made my life whole. I just want to see you happy, and thought maybe this would help you. You're always going to have us, but now that you are 18 maybe you can uncover the past. If anything, maybe it will be a sort of closure."

"In that file, i-it has all the information we were given before we adopted you. You had-d been in foster c-care since you were a baby up until you were two when you were sent to an orphanage. I-i guess you were too young t-t-to remember any of that, but considering some of the nightmares you have...we think they are still lingering there somewhere." My mom says breathlessly after sobbing for a bit.

"You're always going to be our daughter no matter what, Fleur. I just want to see you truly happy, okay?" Dad says while holding back some tears. How could I hate them? They've given me so much and sacrificed so much just to have me in their life. They chose to be my parents, and I do owe them. I will try to find my happiness for them.

"I love you guys. I'm sorry if I ever made you feel like you weren't doing enough. You are! I just have this emptiness in me at times and I can't fight it or figure out why it's there. I guess I can see if uncovering stuff from my past will help." I say lowly, but loud enough for them to hear. This news has been exhausting and while I was supposed to be getting ready for a day with friends, I think I'd rather relax and start planning out whatever I need to after looking at whatever this file holds.

~~~

After crying myself into a fitful nap, I woke up feeling a bit lighter in the chest. I still have yet to open the envelope and my mind is still in a bit of denial about all of it.

There have been moments where I thought I didn't really look like my parents. I mean, my dad and I both have dark brown hair and green eyes. Well, his are more hazel, but still. Thinking about features, I don't share the rest with my mom or dad. Noses are different, I'm actually shorter than my mom...huh. I guess I've been secretly living in denial. Then again, no one ever pointed out that I don't resemble either parental unit.

I rub the rest of the sleep off my face and brush my hair back before grabbing the packet that contains something from my past. "Happy birthday, Flo..." I mutter to myself then let out a sigh. I guess it's now or never.

When I open the envelope a few pieces of paper fall out. One is a picture. It's a Polaroid that looks like it's been through a lot, but you can see two figures. One man and one woman. The photo is over-exposed as if they were already under a spotlight and then the camera used flash, but you can still make out the two. I'm guessing these are my real parents from the feeling I get looking at them and because I look almost like the woman. Her hair is shorter and a bit more straight, but still just as brown and her face is the same heart shape as mine. You can see the green in the man's eyes. It's vivid and matches my shade, which surprises me. Even more surprising is they look like they are at some sort of party in the picture and they are wearing vests? Leather vests, cute.

They look...free. I mean sure, they also look happy, but they look relaxed. They look like they are free of burdens. Maybe that's why they got rid of me? That thought alone makes my chest ache and stomach drop. Should I even bother this pursuit? I mean...they did get rid of me for some reason. Why should I bother with people who couldn't be bothered with me?

Ugh....stop overthinking Flo...

The next piece of paper is a certification of adoption. Nothing to really give me a clue other than the day I was formally adopted by Mom and Dad.

The last piece of paper is a copy of the reported adoption. As I glance at all the boxes filled out in the form I make it towards the bottom where a section is labelled 'Information on Original Birth Certificate'. Bingo!

Child's Birth Place: Broomfield, Colorado

Interesting...I'm a long ways from there. I thought my whole life was lived in Oregon.

Mother's Name: LeDoux, Crystal M.

Father's Name: LeDoux, Maxwell D.

Well, I guess I can't go back since I have their names. Being newly 18 and a child of the internet I quickly search up their names and the town I was born.

While I don't get many hits with their full names, I do get some with the last name in Broomfield. It has to be some sort of relations right? I quickly save all the information I find and make some notes on names to check on social media later. For now, I think I've got a start.

My high school graduation is in two weeks. My summer plans with friends will have to be put on hold for these new ones.

I'm going to find my real parents whether they like it or not.

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Hey again. Just wanted to say thank you for giving this a chance. See you soon 😘