‘New day, new adventure!’ – is there even someone on earth who wakes up in the morning and says this to themselves? If there is, they are incredibly lucky and they should appreciate what they have achieved. For me, personally, every day is kind of the same. I wake up, go to school, hang out with friends, do my homework, maybe read a book, and then go to bed. That is my routine. Oh, and there is no hanging out with my family because it is kind of impossible. You may ask why. Well, it is because I do not have one. My family are my friends – I love them like they are my brothers or sisters (actually I do not know what it is to have relatives, but I guess they have a strong bond).

Almost everyone has arrived here at a different time and of course there are still people coming. We support each other because we know what the feeling is like. Maybe you start to understand who I am. Yes, I am an orphan and me and my ‘friends’ are living in an orphanage. We have known each other for about 10 years now, and through all these years we have never lost hope and we keep waiting for our new family to come. Each foster family wants a baby or a toddler, and here we are the teenagers who no one wants to adopt. We have decided to support each other if we never get adopted.

It is pouring with rain outside today and we cannot go out. Every time we hear the voice of a stranger in the orphanage, our hearts skip a beat and we feel butterflies in our stomachs. Yes, I am one of the oldest orphans here, but I will never stop waiting for my future parents to come and pick me up.

My tutor asks me to go to her office and I think I am in trouble. I am really stressed out though I have not done anything wrong. My hands are shaking as I open the door. As I step into the office, I see a middle-aged tiny woman and a masculine but kind-looking man sitting on the chairs in front of Mrs. Jackob’s desk. They all smile at me. What is happening? The last time I felt joyful was 7 years ago when a couple came here and wanted to adopt me, but they decided to get a dog instead. I felt terrible then… Just imagine being replaced by a dog!

Okay, I am back in the reality – three smiley faces are staring at me. Is it happening? Is it really happening? Am I going to have a family and being able to call someone Mom and Dad? They nod at me. THEY NOD AT ME! Is that a confirmation? I hope so. The tiny woman approaches me and hugs me. A real hug, full of love and care. Is that what a mom’s love feels like? I like it. No. I LOVE IT! I feel protected in her arms. I can feel the heat closing in.