CHAPTER TWO
THE ESCAPE

She had been planning this escape for a long time. She spent days listening to everything around her, and in the distance, she spotted a boat and a harbor. After leaving the orphanage, she ran as fast as she could, feeling the wind hit her face, which made her smile. She had finally gained the freedom she had always dreamed of. She knew it wouldn't be long before the matron noticed she was gone, and if the police were notified, she would be taken back.

When she reached the port, she stood for a moment, watching the boats, before approaching a man. She offered him money as a bribe to take her to Poplar, and he agreed. As she sat on the ferry, it was dark, but there was enough light to read, so she pulled out her file and began to examine it carefully. She hoped to find more information about her father. He might not still be in Poplar, but she had to try.

After sitting in the cold for some time, she eventually drifted off to sleep. In my dreams, she replayed the moment I would meet my father, imagining what it would be like, a smile forming on my face as she did. But my slumber was abruptly interrupted by a loud bang overhead — the signal that we had arrived. She quickly grabbed my bag, climbed the ladder, and made my way to the main deck.

"Good luck, kid," the man said, tapping me on the shoulder as she stepped off the ferry and onto the harbor. She stood there for a moment, taking in my surroundings, before she began walking through the unfamiliar streets, unsure of where she was headed.

She took a few deep breaths, steadying my nerves, before approaching a man leaning against a cart stacked with fresh produce. He was smoking a cigarette, seemingly unaware of my presence. She hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Excuse me, I don't mean to bother you, but is there a local doctor here called Doctor Turner?" Se stood patiently, waiting for his response as he looked at me with a mix of confusion and curiosity. After a brief pause, he finally spoke.

He looked at her, then he nodded. "Dr. Turner? Yes, his surgery is about a 15-minute walk that way." He pointed in the direction, but I stood there, frozen. She was in a new place, unfamiliar and alone. It wasn't the fear of my plan failing that paralyzed me; it was the thought that my father might reject me—and that she had left behind the people who had truly cared for me.

She lingered, uncertain, but the man seemed to notice my hesitation. He dropped his cigarette, stamped it out with his shoe, and turned back to her. "If you follow me, I'll take you there," he said, starting to walk. Reluctantly, she decided to trust him and followed.

As we walked through the streets, she looked around at the families, watching children play joyfully. It was something she had never experienced, and it filled me with a sense of warmth and happiness. She realised that Poplar, though poor, was full of love—something more important than money.

After a while, the man stopped in front of a building. "Here we are," he said, looking at me. She smiled because she had made it. "Thank you very much," she said.

The man smiled back. "You're not from around here, are you?"

"You can tell?" She replied, and he chuckled.

"I'm here to find my father," she continued. "I heard he lives around here."

"Well, good luck," the man said, tapping my shoulder before walking away.

As he disappeared, she stood there, unsure of what to do next. A woman approached me, sizing me up. "You alright?" she asked, looking me over.

"Sorry," she said, stepping out of her way as she opened the door to the building. The woman held the door open for me to step through. "Thank you," she murmured as she walked in, passing through another set of doors until she arrived at the waiting area where several people were sitting.

At the reception desk, she noticed a sister standing behind it. She walked over to her. "Hello," she said quietly, trying not to startle her.

"Hello," the sister replied, looking up at her.

"Is Dr. Turner here?" She asked, clasping my hands together to calm my nerves. She was frightened but determined.

"No, but his wife is," the sister smiled as she turned and walked into another room. She stood there alone, looking around the room, trying to keep myself from crying. A mix of emotions swirled inside me until she heard footsteps behind me. She turned to see a nurse standing in front of me, a confused look on her face. 

"Can I help you?" she asked.

She stood there, still anxious, struggling to find the words.

"I'm here to see Dr. Turner, but..." She trailed off, nervously smiling at the receptionist, though it only made her seem more suspicious. She wasn't sure how to explain who she was or how the woman would react. 

"He's on a call right now. You can leave a message if you'd like," the receptionist said, smiling back. Elizabeth felt her hand begin to shake, so she quickly tucked it into her pocket. 

"I can wait," Elizabeth said, her voice trembling. "I really need to see Dr. Turner. It's important." She added, growing frustrated.

"You may wait in reception until he returns," the nurse said, her smile reassuring as she led Elizabeth back to the reception area. Elizabeth sat for what felt like hours, watching people come and go. Then, Mrs. Turner walked through the door, and Elizabeth stood up quickly.

"I don't want to be impatient, but do you know how much longer he'll be? I really need to talk to him. It's incredibly important," Elizabeth said, her patience thinning by the second. She had nowhere else to go, no one to turn to. She had no choice but to take a chance on his wife.

"I understand that you must be frustrated, but I assure you he'll be back soon. Are you sure I can't help you? You've been waiting here for hours," Mrs. Turner asked, her concern for Elizabeth evident. 

Elizabeth took a deep breath, then opened the satchel at her side, pulling out a file and handing it to Mrs. Turner. The confusion that crossed Mrs. Turner's face was clear.
End Of Chapter 2