Slowly, I began to stir from my slumber, my mind still foggy from the remnants of the dream. As I blinked my eyes open, I realized that it had only been a nightmare about June's death. I let out a deep sigh of relief and stretched my arms out, feeling the warmth of the covers enveloping me.

As I turned my head to the right, I saw the digital clock on my bedside table displaying the time - 3 AM. It was still the middle of the night, and I knew that I had a few more hours of sleep left before the sun would rise.

I then shifted my gaze to my left, where Alice was sleeping soundly next to me. We were in our usual cuddling position, with her body curled up against mine in a pretzel-like formation. Her head was resting on my chest, and her arms were wrapped around me, as if she never wanted to let go.

Oh yeah, I'm sure you're all must be wondering why I didn't place pillows between us to create some distance. Well, the thing is, I used to do that, but every time she wakes up in the middle of the night, she just throws them away and ends up cuddling with me. So, having the pillows there becomes pointless.

It was a routine for me to wake up and see her face first thing in the morning. I seriously hate to admit it but I loved the feeling of waking up next to the person I loved. I reached out with my left hand and ran my fingers through her hair, admiring the softness of it. She stirred slightly in her sleep, but didn't wake up. I continued to stroke her hair, enjoying the sensation of her warmth and the softness of her skin. As I looked at her lips, I felt a sudden urge to kiss her. I could easily take advantage of her. But I knew that I couldn't do it without her permission, and I didn't want to wake her up too. So I held back, content to just watch her sleep.

Suddenly, I heard a scratching sound on my window again similar to the one I heard before going to sleep. I turned my head to the right, but there was no one there.

I slowly rolled out of bed, being careful not to wake Alice. I tiptoed over to the window and opened it, hoping to see what was causing the noise. All I could see was the moon shining down on the forest outside. The wind was picking up, and I could hear the leaves rustling and the branches creaking.

Our orphanage was surrounded by the forest, and the worst thing was bears and snakes sometimes roamed the area. Although no one had ever been hurt, I couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension. I decided to investigate further, just to be safe.

I walked over to my study table and grabbed my shoes from underneath. I looked back at Alice, who was still sleeping soundly, and then made my way to the window, I opened it, took a deep breath and jumped out into the night.

As I landed on the ground, I could feel the cool grass beneath my feet. The wind was blowing fiercely, and I could hear the sound of the trees swaying in the darkness. I walked towards the forest, trying to see if there was anything out of the ordinary.

Without a trace of fear, I cautiously scanned my surroundings, only to find nothing but an eerie chill that seemed to permeate the air. It was unusually colder than usual, sending shivers down my spine. The scratching sounds I had heard earlier were not a figment of my imagination; they were real. Something was definitely amiss, and my instincts urged me to investigate further. However, a deep-rooted fear held me back, for I couldn't bear the thought of someone entering my room through the window and potentially harming Alice, I stood there, listening intently to the symphony of nocturnal forest sounds for what felt like an eternity, trying to decipher their meaning.

I always walk alone, not because I don't have anyone to walk beside me. The hardest walk is walking alone, but it's also the walk that makes you the strongest. So it was easy for me to walk in the darkness. I forgot to bring the torch but who needs it anyway.

After five long minutes, I summoned the courage to venture into the unknown. My eyes darted back and forth, constantly checking for any signs of intrusion through the window. Slowly, I made my way through the dense forest, my senses on high alert. The only company I had were the whispering trees and the distant twinkling stars that adorned the night sky. I circled around, searching for any clues, but to no avail. There was nothing out of the ordinary.

Huh, that's weird. I could've sworn I heard a scratching sound, but there's nobody around. It wasn't just in my head, but I can't afford to let my guard down.

As I began retracing my steps, a sudden urge compelled me to turn around and face the forest once more. And then, I heard it again—the sound that had sent chills down my spine. My heart raced as I swiftly pivoted, only to discover that the source of my unease was nothing more than a harmless lizard. I watched it intently, my relief washing over me like a gentle breeze.

Realizing my mistake, I let out a sigh of relief. It seemed that the lizard had been responsible for the mysterious sounds all along. With newfound tranquility, I opened the window and gracefully leaped inside, careful not to disturb Alice's slumber. I slipped off my shoes and placed them beneath my study table, silently tiptoeing towards my bed. With utmost care, I settled onto the mattress, ensuring that Alice remained undisturbed. I pulled the blanket up, tucking it snugly around me, and gradually succumbed to the embrace of sleep.

I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock ringing. Slowly, I reached out for it on the shelf and turned it off. As I sat up, I glanced over at my left and saw that she was still asleep. I rubbed my eyes and checked the clock. It was only 6AM in the morning.

I got up from the bed and stretched. As I looked back at her, I noticed that she was sweating a bit. I placed my hand on her forehead and confirmed that she had a fever. It was nothing new, though. She had been prone to fever ever since she was a kid.

I walked over to the door and opened it before walking back towards the bed. I pulled the blanket off her and picked her up into my arms. As I walked out of my room, I left the door open. I strolled down the hallway of the orphanage, holding her close to my chest.

As I walked, I saw Mrs. Warner. She was an amazing woman who worked at the orphanage. I was closest to her, and she was like a mother to me. She was wearing a simple blue dress, and her blonde hair was tied up in a bun. Despite her financial situation, she always looked stunning.

Mrs. Warner greeted me with a smile, "Good Morning" and raised an eyebrow as she saw me carrying Alice in my arms. She sighed and said, "She slept in your room again, huh?"

I replied, "Good morning, and yeah, no matter how much I tell her, she just won't listen to me."

Mrs. Warner looked at Alice's face, which was sweating. "Is something wrong?" she asked.

I nodded and said, "Yeah, she has a fever again."

Mrs. Warner nodded and said, "Okay. Well, let's take her into her room."

We walked down the hallway together, and I followed Mrs. Warner to Alice's room. As we entered, I laid her down on the bed and covered her with a blanket. Mrs. Warner went to the cupboard and took out some medicine. She handed it to me and said, "Put this on table, I will come back soon."

I nodded and thanked her. As she left the room, I sat down next to Alice and stroked her hair. I hoped she would feel better soon. However, I soon came to the realization that simply stroking her hair would not bring her the comfort she needed.

Then I got up and went into the bathroom and grabbed a cool washcloth, dampening it with cold water. I carefully placed it on Alice's forehead, providing some relief from the fever.

Mrs. Warner, came over with a thermometer and checked Alice's temperature. It was 39.4C. Mrs. Warner sighed and said, "She has a high fever, just like usual."

I knew we didn't have the best medical care in our small town of Riverwood. Our doctors were local and didn't have the highest degrees or specialties. We were surrounded by woods and far away from the main cities, so it took at least 12 hours just to get to the nearest hospital. And even then, the fees were exorbitant.

We usually avoid going to the main city hospital because the doctor charges a lot of money, which we cannot afford. Last time, when Alice had a fever, the doctor charged more than $12,000 for admitting her for five days.

Alice's fever always seemed to come back every two months. We couldn't afford to go to the main city hospital every time, so we took necessary precautions to keep her healthy. She was a strong girl, but this recurring fever was taking a toll on her.

I said "Can't we find cure for it?"

Mrs. Warner shook her head. "The doctor has said several times that it's maybe because of genetics or the change in air and temperature."

Mrs. Warner expressed, "Look, with all the money problems we already have, there's just no way we can do it."

I responded "I really wish I could help out somehow."

She advised, "Don't worry, you'll have your chance, but right now, you gotta focus on your studies, kid. If you wanna be successful, education is key."

I just nodded at her response and looked at Alice, who was sleeping peacefully. She was going through so much, and there seemed to be no end in sight.

Then she said, "Alvin, remember, everything will work out in the end. You don't need to know how; you just have to trust that it will."

I smiled at her response, and then she added, "Now go, or you will be late for school."

Mrs. Warner assured me that Alice would be fine, but I couldn't help but worry. Still, I knew I had to get ready for school. "Yeah, I guess I should get ready for school," I replied, trying to shake off my concerns.

"Have a good day," Mrs. Warner said kindly as I headed out of Alice's room.

I made my way towards my own room, closing the door behind me. Stepping into the shower, I quickly stripped off my clothes and began brushing my teeth simultaneously. I know it's a bit strange, but it's just my way of multitasking. After finishing up in the shower, I dried myself off and wrapped a towel around my body before heading towards the cupboard.

As I scanned through my clothes, I decided to go for something different today. Black has always been my favorite color. My eyes danced across the array of garments, seeking a departure from the ordinary. While the allure of ebony has forever bewitched my soul, today I yearned for a sartorial metamorphosis. A pristine white hoodie beckoned to me, whispering promises of a fresh perspective. With careful consideration, I united it with ebony-hued jeans, forging a harmonious union of contrasting shades. My feet found solace in the embrace of snow-white shoes, their pristine canvas mirroring the purity of my newfound attire. As I meticulously combed through the raven strands that adorned my crown, I marveled at the juxtaposition of ebony and ivory, a visual symphony that echoed the essence of my aesthetic aspirations.

Perfect. Glancing at the clock, I saw that it was still only 6:30. I had some time to spare, so I decided to go to the kitchen to help Mrs. Taylor.

Leaving my room, I locked the door behind me and made my way through the hallway towards the kitchen. Mrs. Sarah Taylor, the responsible and talented cook of the orphanage, was already busy preparing breakfast. She was standing over the stove, expertly flipping the strips of bacon with a spatula. I couldn't help but admire her cooking skills.

The aroma of sizzling bacon filled the air, making my stomach growl in anticipation.

"Good morning, Mrs. Taylor," I greeted her with a smile. "What are you making today?"

Returning my smile, she replied, "Just some bacon and fried eggs. But I was thinking of making something special for you."

I was intrigued. "What do you have in mind?"

"It's a surprise," she said with a mischievous grin. "But you have to promise to sit down and relax while I make it for you."

I calmly replied. "You know that's not going to happen."

Sarah rolled her eyes playfully. "You always help me in the kitchen, Alvin. Why don't you take a break today?"

I knew she was right, but I couldn't resist the urge to lend a hand. "Fine, but at least let me set the table."

"Sure," she said, turning back to the stove.

I grabbed a couple of plates and some silverware from the cabinet and set them on the table. As I did, I noticed that Sarah had also prepared some toast and sliced up some fresh fruit.

I smiled, took my seat at the table, Sarah brought over a plate of bacon and eggs, along with a small dish of something that smelled heavenly.

"What's this?" I asked, eyeing the dish curiously.

"It's a breakfast burrito," she explained. "I made it with scrambled eggs, cheese, and some of the leftover bacon. And I added some salsa and avocado for extra flavor."

I took a bite and was blown away by how delicious it was. The eggs were fluffy and perfectly seasoned, the bacon added a nice crunch, and the salsa and avocado gave it a nice kick.

"This is amazing," I said, taking another bite.

Sarah beamed with pride. "I'm glad you like it."

I quickly devoured my breakfast. With a grateful smile, I turned to Sarah and uttered, "Thank you for the food."

Returning my smile, Sarah replied, "You're welcome. Have a good day."

"You too," I responded, my voice filled with genuine warmth. With that, I swiftly made my way back to my room, snatched my bag, and exited, closing the door behind me. Stepping out of the orphanage, I embarked on the familiar path that led me to school. Our orphanage, unfortunately, was plagued by poverty, and Alice, seemed to be constantly battling a stubborn fever. It weighed heavily on my heart, and I yearned to do something to alleviate her suffering. Though I had already made a silent vow to myself to become successful and care for the orphanage in the future, I couldn't help but wish I could make a difference right now.