I race through the hospital corridors and out into the blinding sun. I don’t stop until I reach the cab where Suzie is waiting for me.
“Are you alright, dear?” She watches me closely.
“I will be, Suzie. I just need time. Let’s go.” I hold back my tears, blinking furiously to stop them.
“Are you sure you want to do this now?” she asks.
“Yes. It’s time for me to meet my biological parents.” It’s been two days since the incident. I’ve stayed by Roman’s side, making sure he’s getting the care he needs. A lot of fellow police officers came and went, always asking how he was going. The doctors assured me he’d pull through, but would have a few months recovery time. The bullet missed his heart by mere inches. He’s very lucky. With everything that’s gone on, Pierce was the bad guy in the end. Roman’s heart had changed. He’s going to have a couple of rough months, with Internal Affairs investigating everything that went down in that house. I gave my statement, stating that Pierce had confessed to the killings, with no mention of Roman at all.
Guilt tears through me knowing I’m leaving him at his most vulnerable time. I know he’ll have the support of those from work; I just don’t have the strength in me anymore to be there for someone else. I’m lost, and struggling to keep myself together.
Suzie gives the driver the address and we ride in silence, heading out of the city. When we pull up their driveway, I nearly die at the size of their white-brick two-story house. I’m sure my mouth hangs open. What if they don’t like me?
I did some research on them before coming here. They’re a very wealthy family, and I wonder what my life would have been life if I had stayed with them. As hard as my upbringing was, I wouldn’t change it for anything or anything that’s happened after that. It’s taught me so much.
Stepping out of the car, I stand in awe. Suzie takes my arm and we walk up to their front door. My heart pounds against my rib cage. Before I even get a chance to knock on the door it swings open, and there before me stand two people I don’t know, but recognize from their pictures. The lady is also familiar because of the dreams I’ve had.
“Hello, I’m Elenore, and this is Suzie.”
“Hello, Elenore, please come in.” My mother greets Suzie and me.
Nervously, I walk into the largest home I’ve ever been in. My eyes dance around the area—cream walls with lots of pictures, and such nice and fancy things fill the rooms. Stairs lead up to another part of the house.
“Come, take a seat.” My mother ushers us to the living area. Taking a seat on the couch, I sink right in—it’s the most comfortable seat I’ve ever sat in.
My mother leaves the room and comes back with a tray of drinks and some snacks and takes a seat across from us. “Elenore, I’m Tabatha, your biological mother. And this is Andrew, your father. We’re so excited to be finally meeting you.” Tears fill her eyes as she speaks. My father, Andrew, takes her hand. Emotion rolls over his own face. A lump forms in my throat.
“Mom, is that her?” A loud female voice echoes from the stairs as I hear footsteps coming down them. Glancing toward the sound, my eyes fall on a young woman, possibly eighteen.
“Daisy, this is Elenore. Elenore, this is Daisy, your younger sister.” My mother introduces us.
Sister? I have a younger sister? Is this another one of my dreams?
I stand up to greet her, and she barrels toward me, wrapping her arms around me. The instant her arms are secured, every single emotion comes tumbling out of me. I cry tears of happiness.
When I finally let my sister go, I clear my face of the tears. Looking at my family, I say, “I’m so happy to be finally meeting you all as well.”
Daisy clings to my side. My mom goes and gets photos of when I was a baby. It’s so surreal finally seeing pictures like this. Never did I think this would ever happen.
We spend the entire afternoon getting to know each other. Daisy tells me she’s at college and having a great time. We speak about what my hopes and dreams are—the kinds of things parents would normally ask their kids. It’s a wonderful day. They don’t bring up anything about the people who took me, or what has happened recently, which I’m grateful for.
“Elenore, before you go, I’d like to invite you to our yearly family summer vacation. We go to a lake about two hours away and spend a week. We’d love it if you came. I know it’s still some months away but we want you to be able to come.”
My heart swells. As broken as it is, this is the kind of mending it needs.
“Yes, come, Elenore,” Daisy excitedly says. She’s a ball of positive energy, this girl.
I smile at her enthusiasm. “Sure, I’d love that. I’ll put in for holidays when I get back to work.”
Suzie and I rise from our seats. Tabatha goes directly for Suzie, giving her a hug. “Thank you so much for taking care of our girl.”
Now it’s Suzie’s turn to be emotional. “I wish I had done it sooner, but we’re here now and can move forward with our lives,” Suzie says with a trembling voice.
My mother and father wrap me in their arms and right here, in this moment, I am home. I’ve never felt as much love as I have today. I have my mother and father, a sister, and Suzie. I couldn’t be happier.
Still, there’s an ache in my heart that in time I’m sure will get better.
It’s time to focus on my life.