"ANITA!!! GET UP, IT'S AFTER SIX!!!"

Ugh. I say up and rubbed my eyes, then checked my watch. It was 5:48am. The clocks are all broken downstairs, but I've been saving up for a working watch for three years. I got it yesterday, and I had the man at the shop set it for me.

"COMING SARA, SORRY!" I hollered down. It's not my choice - well technically it is, but I'd rather not be put away again. Otherwise I'd tell her she was wrong.

I threw on my clothes and ran down to Sara for breakfast. Sara was a stern-looking woman of 32, but she looked much older. She said it was us kids, but I think it's the everlasting look of annoyance on her face. Her hair was in a tight bun as usual and she barely glanced up at me before she started yelling.

"What the hell is wrong with you? You have two different socks on again, and your hair isn't even up. Do you want to embarrass me in public!? Do you want me to put you away again?!"

"No Sara. I'll change now."

"Good. You'll probably miss breakfast, but you can wait a few hours for lunch. Now go."

"Yes, Sara." I darted past Erika and Janet, who were on their way downstairs, and arrived at my trunk in no time. "Happy birthday to me, Anita. Or not." I was fifteen years old today. I bought myself that watch as a present - for me, from me.  No one else here would remember anyway.

I pulled on matching socks and pulled my hair up into a bun. I slipped back into my shoes, fixed the hem of my dress, and walked down to the others. "Good morning Erika. 'Morning Janet." I said, exhausted.

Erika and Janet weren't twins - they weren't actually related as far as I knew - but they were very alike. They were both sixteen, average height and weight, with Erika's reddish hair in a bun identical to Janet's blonde.

"Hello, Anita doll. How refreshing to see you dressed appropriately for once. Sara will be pleased." They said in unison in cold voices.
"Yeah, well, where'd she go?" I replied. By now I was used to their creepy habit of speaking. They had picked it up only a week or two after they had met.

"I believe that she has retired to the sitting room. She informed us to refuse your attempts to eat breakfast and to send you to her when you come downstairs." They said together. "

Yeah yeah, no food for me. I'll go see Sara." I left the room, rolling my eyes. Sara wasn't in the sitting room when I arrived, so I stood in the doorway for a good 15 minutes. Then, finally, Sara walked in. Anita, what are you doing?! We are about to go out! Get yourself presentable!"

I left silently. Happy birthday to me.
About ten minutes later, the four of us were walking down the street towards the market. When we arrived, we separated to do our shopping. I headed towards produce, Sara to the butcher's shop, and Erika and Janet to clothing. I picked out some apples, pears, strawberries, and bananas.

While I was paying at the stand, I noticed a woman watching me from across the market. I ignored her and finished paying, but she remained standing still  and watching me even after I started to make my way back to Sara. Getting annoyed, I walked towards her. As I approached, I could see that she had two different colored eyes - one green and one violet. Eventually I stood only a foot away from her, but she continued to do nothing but stare at me. I opened my mouth to ask what she was doing, but suddenly she was tackled to the ground. "Hey! What are you doing!?" I asked.

"Sorry, do you know who this woman is?" The man asked me.

"I - no, I - I was just about ask her." I was very flustered. The man looked at me. "Do you know her name?"

"Margaret Cain."

I looked at him. "Is she sick, or a, um, mental patient, or something?"

"She's been in a mental hospital for the past eight years. I don't know how she got out," he said. "Who are you?"

"Anita Cain. My mother disappeared when I was 7. Eight years ago. I was wondering... She was watching me." My blood was pounding in my ears. Could it be her?

It's possible she could be your mom. Recently she stopped speaking, but when she was first taken in she spoke of her family. She said she had two daughters and a dog. Never mentioned her husband. Sound familiar?"

It was an effort to reply. Finally, I got out "my dad left us when I was five. I had a sister but she ran away a year later. She was 17 when she left. The dog was named Earl. He was a chocolate lab."

"You know, I could get authorization to do a DNA test if you wanted. Give me a call." He handed me a business card. "I should get her back to the hospital."

"Bye." I managed as he walked off with Margaret. I looked at the card in my hand. It read Bryan Wolfe 3678092010. I smiled as I went back to the butcher's, 10 minutes late.
"Young lady!" Sara cried upon my entrance.
"Yeah yeah, put me away," I said smiling. I didn't care. I had found my mom.

That was my fifteenth birthday. I had finally discovered where my mom had gone, the reason for my life the past eight years. A week later I snuck off to get a DNA test and found that I was indeed Margaret's daughter. One problem - I still don't have a legal guardian besides Sara. I'll figure out that obstacle when I turn sixteen, but until then I have the thought of my mom, my real mom.