"Are you sure I can do this?" I asked my best friend, Elizabeth as I boarded the train. She gave me a reassuring smile.

"Margaret, I know you can. Why else would I have helped you? You are strong, independent, and brave. You are going to leave this dreadful city and go find your parents in Detroit! Do you have the letter and locket?" Elizabeth asked. I nodded and patted my coat pocket. Elizabeth smiled.

"Thank you, Betty. I couldn't have done this without you. I'm going to miss you so much!" I exclaimed, calling my best friend by her nickname. She smiled.

"I'll miss you too, Maggie," she replied and embraced me tightly. We were interrupted by the sound of the train whistle.

"I've gotta go now, Betty. I'll see you in another life," I told her, solemnly. Elizabeth smiled.

"I have faith and trust that I will see you again my sister. Now go find your family!" And with that I boarded the train.

It was a long and tedious journey from Boston to Detroit. I was an anxious wreck the entire time. I reminisced over my time at the orphanage. I had experienced a pretty horrible 15 years of life, and now here I was on my way to a better one. It was 5:00 in the morning when Elizabeth and I had reached the train station. She had snuck me out at 4:00 am in hopes that we wouldn't get caught. I prayed that she wouldn't. And I prayed that God would allow me to find my family. The parents who had abandoned me when I was young. The parents who left me with just a locket and a letter. The parents who couldn't afford me. I was going to find them. I sighed as I pulled out the locket. It had their picture tucked within it. I smiled as I traced the shape of my mother's face and the shape of my father's strong jaw. Ruth and Charles Elliott. I strung the locket around my neck as I pulled out their letter. I read its contents for the millionth time.

Dearest Margaret,
We are so sorry that we have been forced to do this to you. We love you so much! Your grandmother is very ill and we can't afford you. By the time you are old enough to find us, you may choose not to. And that's okay too. We just want the best for you, and at this moment, it's for you to grow up without us. We dearly hope that one day you choose to come find us. We will remain in Detroit, Michigan until we die so you always know where we are. We're close enough that you are just a train ride away, but far enough away that we won't be tempted to come take you home. We wish we could. I don't think you know just how much this is killing us inside. I haven't stopped crying since we made this decision. We love you so much, our little Maggie. I hope you decide to one day come and find us.
Sincerely,
Ruth and Charles Elliott.

I felt a single tear roll down my cheek as I read their letter. I was going to find them. Hopefully they were still alive.
Before I knew it, the train rolled to a stop in Detroit. I rushed out and ran into the streets. I asked everyone around me if they knew a Ruth and Charles Elliott. No luck. Days went by of me living on the streets, searching for them. I thought I had lost all hope of finding them.

Then one day, a man came up to me. He must have been sent by God himself!

"Are you the girl who is looking for Ruth and Charles Elliott?" He asked me. I jumped up.

"Yes that's me! My name is Margaret Elliott and I'm the girl looking for them. They're my parents!" I exclaimed. The man smiled.

"I happen to work with Charles. This is my short break right now, so do you want me to bring you to him now in the factory?" He asked. I nodded vigorously and smiled widely.

"I would love nothing more!"
So the man brought me to the factory. I felt the anxiety rising in my stomach. I was so nervous to meet the man who shared the same genetics as me! We finally approached the Ford factory where my father worked. The man lead me inside to where he was.

"Mr. Elliott, this girl has been looking for you," the man said, approaching the man at the desk. The man at the desk looked up and narrowed his eyes at me.

"You look familiar, child. Would you state your name?" He asked.

I stared at him and felt tears brimming in my eyes. This man was my father. I know it! He looks just like the man in my locket!

"My name is Margaret Elliott. I'm 15 years old and you are my father," I boldly stated. The man stood up quickly.

"Maggie? Is it really you?" He asked quietly. I nodded. Before I could register what was happening, he ran to me and embraced me tightly. I hugged him back, so happy he accepted me. He then took me home to meet my mother who had the same reaction. We then spent the rest of the night exchanging stories back and forth. I thanked God every night since we were reunited. He had truly blessed me with the one thing I had only ever wanted: a family. They were the origin of my sorrow, and now they were the conclusion to my happiness.

963 words

For the monthly contest #1 hosted by BrendaDaaeDestler and XxCloudy_SkyexX