I remember when I was little and before a slap to my face thing started. I sat at the edge of my window to afraid to step down the ladder. The night sky was filled with stars.

I counted them. Every night. Just sat there and waited. Then sat there and counted.

An asteroid shower was going to happen tonight. I took my chance and went down the ladder. I wanted a perfect view and the street lights weren't helping.

I ran through the tress silently killing myself. I was afraid of the dark. I started to doubt coming here, but then the sky started to shine.

Shooting stars. I quickly made a wish. Two in fact. I made two as thousands stars started to shoot across the sky.

To be wanted and not to be afraid of the dark. The little me wanted to be able to come out here any dark night. I ran back to my ladder and climbed up to my window.

I hurried into bed and feel asleep. Tomorrow was coming. My wishes are going to come true. Only one came the next day. I loved the night.

My hair was clean from blood and I made my way back to the office. Jerrold's eyes became fuzzy and he didn't really pay attention to things.

I knocked on the door. "Come in."

We entered and I glanced at Jerrold. His eyes were focused. I sat down in my seat. The vibe in the room was different. It was less welcoming. They're not going to take me. I'm trapped again. My last shooting star wish isn't going to happen...

Jerrold still was standing. He was glaring Madam Devil in the eyes. It's about to go down.

It was Nick who spoked. "We will like to adopt Cassandra."

Madam Devil looked shocked. "Sir, you just meet her. She is currently barely passing her classes and is a trouble maker."

"The Coug family would like to adopt her. Where do we sign?" Nick stated in a much more forced tone.

"Sign there," she pointed to the paper. "It will take a couple days to get Cassandra ready. Come back Monday."

But... Today is Thursday! That's like four days away.

"Any questions?"

Jerrold spoke up. "Yeah. Why are you acting like this?"

"Excuse me?" Madam Devil's eyes started to turn black again. I moved the farthest I can in my chair.

The crazy eyes. Run while you still can!

"You did that to her."

"She probably just fell down the stairs. She's very clumsy."

I rolled my eyes. "Clumsy my ass," I mumbled.

Annabel's and Nick's face turned into an angry glare.

"She indicated that you did that to her!"

"There's no proof! She's just upset that she looks like a complete idiot. Like she usually does."

"Cassandra. Take us to the place she did it at." Jerrold pulled me up from my seat and pushed me to the door.

I looked back and got an encouraging smile from him. I opened the door to have everyone follow me. I walked down the hall ways Madam Devil took my down. There it was. Room D1.

"Unlock it." Annabel's voice came with authority.

"Madam Devil," a nurse called. She came quickly over to us. "There is a hook that is covered in blood that has just been clean, and we don't know who fell into it."

Madam Devil's smirk came back into her face. "As you can see, Cassandra was being a lier. Don't worry. She will be punished."

I can feel my face going pale. Back to Room D1. She kept talking. "I assumed you will not be adopting her anymore."

Nick's and Annabel's voice cuts into her rumble. "No. We still are."" We already signed the papers. She is my daughter."

I'm wanted. My shooting star actually worked!
Madam Devil looked like she wanted to kill me. "Very well. Cassandra get your stuff together. The Cougs will come back Monday for you."

"I'm staying."  Jerrold's voice piped up. "I'll stay with her for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday."

I'm not going to be alone. Madam Devil looked like she blew up.

"It's to help get inside information on Cassandra's room. Help her with the transition."

Madam Devil couldn't say no. I was saved!

"Very well. You can sleep on the same floor as Cassandra. Go on."

I started walking down the hall. Up the stairs into the kitchen. I missed lunch. I made myself a quick sandwich and I also made Jerrold one too.

We ate them as we went to my floor. Rooms flooded the long hallways. There was a couple of kids on this floor. We heard laughing and giggling as we walked down. I open the door to my room. Three empty beds were there next to mine.

I went to the closet and grabbed some pillows and blankets for Jerrold and placed them on his bed.

I sat down on the window seat to see the sunset. The sky turned pink, orange, and red. Jerrold sat across from me. Not looking at the sky, but at me.

"So, what do you guys do for fun?"

I looked at him. "Nothing. We usually have chores to do, and homework from school. The younger kids meet in the play area to play, and the older kids try not to die from boredom."

He looked at me. "What do you do to kill the boredom?"

I smiled. "I look up at the night sky."

"You can't see it very well."

I roll my eyes. "That's because I don't watch it from here." I opened the window and climbed out.

"You really are a trouble maker."

"Not really. Compare to others I'm a noob. Plus, I get back before nine."

We climbed down the ladder, and I lead us to the forest. I lied down on the grass I did last time. Jerrold lied down beside me.

"Just watch the stars and moon. Do you find-"

"Nope. I just watch them shine. I feel like I'm connecting here. I feel free here."