Mira woke up rubbing her eyes and yawning. She looked around her dorm and no one was there. "8:05 oh no," she screamed as she jumped out of bed. She threw on her clothes and ran to the dining hall hoping the doors hadn't been closed yet, but she was too late. "No," she cried, her stomach grumbling. "I'm so hungry." Mira did not dare ask Ms Wilson for a late breakfast, remembering her last warning.

Mira went back to her room feeling empty. She searched around her dorm, but failed to find any food. Sitting on the edge of her bed, with her head in her hands as tears welled in her eyes, Mira dreamed of a normal life with loving parents.

"Late for breakfast again 'ay Mira?" She looked up to see her friend Lucy standing at the door with a smile on her face and a bowl in her hand. "Food," Mira joyfully exclaimed as Lucy placed the bowl of cereal in front of her.
"This is the third time you've been late" Lucy exclaimed, "You've got to be more organised."
"You sound like Ms Wilson" Mira laughed. Ms Wilson runs the orphanage and she expects everyone to be awake, in the dining hall and ready for breakfast by 8am. She is very strict and if you're not on time, you cannot have any food until lunch. "I can't keep sneaking food out for you" Lucy continued, afraid that next time she'll get caught.
"Ok, ok" Mira said as she gobbled down her food.
Lucy sighed miserably, "I never had to worry about food when I was younger, I could eat whenever I wanted, those were fun times."
Mira grew curious about Lucy's past. "How did you end up here?" she reluctantly asked. Lucy hesitated to answer, but then she started to speak. "We were going to a new theme park that just came out we were all really excited." Lucy then had a flash back, her voice started to shake and her eyes became teary at the thought of it. "When suddenly a truck came and crashed into us. My sister and I survived but both my parents died" Lucy mumbled as she burst into tears. "I'm sorry" Mira said while hugging Lucy "at least you still have your sister" Mira added, stopping Lucy's tears. "What about you?" Lucy asked wiping her tears, "How'd you end up here?" Mira stopped to think, she thought hard, very hard, like if she was just asked an algebraic question. "I don't know," Mira replied. "I can't remember anything other than my time at the orphanage." Curiosity started to build up inside Mira, she was so eager to find out. She ran to Ms Wilson in search of some answers.

She asked Ms Wilson "Where did I come from?"
"What do you mean" Ms Wilson awkwardly asked thinking she may have to give THE talk to a 13 year old. "How did I end up in this orphanage?" "And what happened to my parents?" Mira questioned.
Relieved, Ms Wilson took a deep breath, "I only know what is written in your file, but there's not much there" she said.
"Tell me" Mira rudely asked eagerly anticipating Ms Wilsons reply. Ms Wilson glared at Mira, who quickly realising her mistake added "please."
"That's better" Ms Wilson said, pleased that Mira remembered her manners. She took out her file, brushed off the dust, and continued "A person found you wondering the street alone in tears, he helped you look for your parents but couldn't find them so he brought you here." "His name was Mr Robinson."
"Is that all" Mira asked. "There should at least be an address of where he lives right?" "Well, yes" Ms Wilson replied while looking closer at the files, "but I don't see why you would need it, considering you're not allowed to go outside this orphanage"
"Ok, thank you" Mira gratefully sighed knowing there was no point in fighting for the address. She walked outside Ms Wilson's office and to her surprise she saw 4 year old Simon just trip and fall in the hallway. "Simon, are you ok." Mira shouted Ms Wilson heard Mira and rushed out to help Simon, just as Mira planned. As soon as Ms Wilson left her office Mira ran inside and started to look for the file. She found the address and without any hesitation, went on Ms Wilson's computer and typed the address on Google maps as fast as she could. Just as she clicked print she heard a voice say "Busted". A shiver went down her spine before Mira realised it was Lucy. With her heart racing, she quickly grabbed the map and ran back to her dormitory with Lucy following closely behind.
"This is the second time you've ran away from me today" Lucy annoyingly said while trying to catch her breath.
"Sorry" Mira laughed.
"What were you doing in there anyway" Lucy asked. "I'm going to find out how I ended up here" Mira confidently replied. "I have to" she added with some hesitation this time.
"How" Lucy questioned.
"I'm not sure... yet" Mira responded.

She spent the day trying to think of a plan, and before she knew it, Ms Wilson entered and shouted "Bedtime". She started her nightly count down, "10, 9, 8". The children ran to their beds as Ms Wilson continued, "7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1". She then switched off the light and walked away. There was a dead silence. All the children were careful not to make noise to attract Ms Wilson.
They all fell asleep by 8pm, except Mira who for the first time had just snuck out of the orphanage. She felt as if her heart was beating out of her chest. She ran, and ran and ran as she stared at the map. She finally reached her destination, Mr Robinson's house. She stood there gasping for air. She knocked on the door and saw a tall man with black hair who was shocked to see a young girl all alone at 8:30 at night. He invited her inside after Mira revealed that she was the little girl who he had found roaming around alone all those years ago. She asked question after question. "Where did you first find me?" "Do you know my parents?" "Do you know why I was alone?" "No, sorry" Mr Robinson sighed upset he could not answer her questions. "But" he added "I can take you were I found you."
"Now?" Mira asked as she jumped up in excitement.
"No." He said. "Get some rest and we'll go tomorrow." "You can sleep on the sofa tonight, but I'll have to take you back to the orphanage when we return." Mira then quickly fell asleep.

She woke up and looked at the time "9:30 oh no" she screamed as she fell off the sofa. But things were different today; she was not at the orphanage. She looked around to find Mr Robinson standing there with some delicious pancakes for her. She gasped in excitement and rushed to taste her delicious food. She got ready and by 10:00 they were out of the house and in the car.

After a journey that felt much longer than it was, they arrived at the docks next to the ocean, where ships come from different countries. She started to feel this weird vibe from a specific ship with a crown shaped emblem on it.
She asked Mr Robinson "where does that boat go"
"it goes to a small town called Dahlis." "It's a beautiful place about a half day journey from here."
"Can I have a closer look" she asked.
"Sure" Mr Robison replied as they walked closer to the boat.
Mira stared at the boat while something else caught Mr Robinson's attention. While he was distracted, Mira heard an announcement "the ship to Dahlis will depart in 2 minutes" Mira, eager to find answers, ran onto the ship without a second thought.

Mira was sitting on the boat thinking that after all these years she may have a family after all. She might even have siblings. She was so excited and was in her own little dream world the whole way. The boat finally got to Dahlis and Mira was the first to get off. She looked around and suddenly felt the urge to cry.
"I didn't think this through." "I don't even know if this is where I'm from." "What was I thinking" she burst into tears as she fell to the ground. A nice lady saw her cry and came over to comfort her. She asked her "why are you crying"
"I've lost my family, and I don't know where they are."
"Don't worry dear" the nice lady said bending down to hug Mira "I'll help you find your family." "I'm sure they are as upset as you. Believe me, I know. I lost my daughter here when she was 4, she wondered off onto this ship with a crown shaped emblem and I have come back here every day to look for her." "It has been 9 years but I'll never give up."
"What was her name?" Mira mumbled
"her name was Mira" the lady replied.
Mira looked up to make eye contact and slowly cried "mum."
Mira's mother started to cry "Mira is that you" she happily asked
"yes" Mira said, sharing her tears of joy with her mother. Mira went home with her mother and met her dad. She discovered that she also has a younger brother and sister who were all excited to have her home. Mira was so happy, she could not stop crying. She was not alone anymore. She finally had a family.