Even if I found the coolest Japanese-designed shirt from an online retailer, there are some clothes from which I find it impossible to make a decision. Before the Halloween festival last month, Kalani gave it to me. In regards to that, I truly missed them. According to what Jacob and Camper told me, there is no evidence of them. I distracted myself by starting to choose a long sleeve hoodie that I would wear if I received one. I took ten minutes to get dressed before Jacob noticed me going downstairs. The green cap was in his left hand as he stretched it. He claims that he made a promise that he didn't have any lice, so I took it. I found it amusing to picture some tiny insects in my hair if I combed them out.

I distinctly recall getting them in the front of my scalp; the little girl who gave them to me had black hair, and I was in kindergarten at the time. I was forced to miss a week of school. Hope was the one who cut my long hair until it reached my shoulders. When I saw my hair fall to the ground, I started to cry. Even though the back of my neck was red, it was a relief. Camper stood outside the church, smoking a cigarette. Inhaling the tobacco and exhaling the smoke.

While adjusting his coat, Jacob opens the door. I followed him and positioned myself next to Camper.

"Would you mind holding this while I lock the door for a minute?" Camper hands me the cigarette to hold.

I stare at Jacob as he walks over to lock the door and whispers to his son about something personal.

I held the cigarette up to my lips while observing it and took a puff. I once inhaled it and coughed aloud. I grumbled "God" while coughing again.

"Jesus Christ, girl." Camper approached me and took the cigarette from me. "You should not be smoking this."

"I was just curious."

"You don't want this, and I can assure you of that."

Jacob notices the argument between me and Camper.

I'm sorry; I shouldn't have been so rude to you. Camper apologizes. "Little kids should not smoke or drink."

"But you smoke."

"That's because I'm an adult."

Shamefulness is something I hated. "I'm sorry."

Jacob steps in. "Let's keep it together today,"

"Where are we going now?"

"Camp and I are taking you to the hospital to get the blood test done. And maybe, we can use the DNA test as well."

"Come on." Camper takes my right hand.

I took Jacob's left hand in mine and we began walking towards his pickup truck.

"Can I drive? "

"No." Camper responded quickly, assisting me in squeezing into the middle seat.

"As an idol, you're definitely pushy."

Arriving at Abbot Northwestern Hospital:

Jacob pulls into the lot where some cars were parked in the line-up. My heart raced so fast that my palms were shaking and raised my fingers up to chew my nails. Camper tells me to calm down and relax. We got out of the truck, walking about fifteen meters away from where were walking from the truck to the hospital. The doors automatically opened and we walked inside to head to the front desk with the receptionist. It was a brunette woman with braided hair in a bun. She looked down at her paperwork, holding her phone to her ear, and stared at me, Jacob, and Camper.

"Just a moment." The receptionist stated.

"Take your time," Jacob responded by tapping his foot.

The receptionist hangs up and turns to face us.

'How can I help you today?"

"Hello, one of the social workers wants to know if this young girl can take a particular test."

"Sure, what's her name?"

I spoke first, resting my elbows on the reception desk before Jacob could respond. "Elora Ramsey."

My name is registered on the paper by the woman. I hope she doesn't recognize me after what I just said.

"What's your date of birth?"

"Uh..." It is difficult to respond by recalling the year of my birth. "If it helps, I was born on September fourteenth. I've just turned twelve."

The woman writes down the day, month, and year of my birth. I was born in the year two thousand and eleven, at that time. In many cases, if it has to be, this is unquestionably true. We went into the lobby to wait to be called in the back after she instructed Jacob to sign his name to check me in.

After ten minutes of passing time, a male doctor called me back to that location. To help me face my fear of what was about to happen, I stood up and walked in front of Camper. Prior to entering a room, Jacob was also behind us. I sat down in a chair and fiddled with my pockets while waiting to hear what the doctor instructed me to do as he brought a nurse in to examine me.

The doctor, who went by the name of Dr. Steiner, assured me that I would be fine while bringing up a rolling chair for a brief conversation.

"Hello there, Elora. We're just going to conduct some tests."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that me and Nurse Bradshaw are taking some samples from you; don't worry, all of this is just for the examination to get some DNA results."

I can see Dr. Steiner pulling a swab out of a small bag as I inhale and exhale. My fingers dug into the leather of the armchair and I started to grip it.

"Relax." Camper takes my hand in his.

The words were frightening and only increased my level of anxiety.

"Just squeeze my hand if you feel any pain."

Dr. Steiner quickly swirled the swab in my mouth before putting it back in the bag, so I knew it was working in my favor. Before becoming overjoyed that there was nothing to be afraid of, I managed to calm down. I turned to face Camper as I squeezed his hand. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Jacob played with the cap on my head. "See, kid, I told you it would be alright."

"And earlier, when you asked about driving, I advised you to hold off until you were much older."

Dr. Steiner and Nurse Bradshaw went to the lab to perform the necessary tests. They cut some of my hair before they left so they could also follow up with the results in case there was unfavorable feedback. I needed this to go well for me to have any hope. Everything that went wrong was ten times worse. My head felt so slouched; today I must overcome my sleeplessness. They are attempting something that I might not be aware of, and I am awaiting the results. I fought my way to wakefulness and dozed off. Unintentionally, my head touched a hard shoulder. My eyes suddenly opened, revealing Camper's shoulder.

"Sorry."

"You seem worn out," He said while reading a magazine on a table. "Did you get enough rest?"

My sleep cycle is on repeat as I ponder who that baby could be and where she is now. "I slept like a baby, but I guess not enough,"

"Being on the run will tire you. I hate to say it, but you could have called the police to report the incident if you were in danger."

Why isn't this surprising?

"If I had, they would have taken me away."

Camper knows me well enough to assist me as a friend without making me feel stupid. "Unless you want to stay with your adopted parents' relatives, you can stay with good people who would treat you better."

"No."

"Wouldn't hurt if you tried."

"Perhaps, even if I love my aunt and uncle very much, I can't do it to them."

He is not criticizing non-abusive families, that much is certain. He realizes the darkness that infests my life. He picks up a sports magazine once more. I look over to see his father snoozing off in the chairs while we wait for the doctors. To get a good position on my sleeping side, I turned my body away from Camper. This time, as I fell asleep off, it was just a dream without a vision. which was precisely what I wanted.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Dr. Steiner entering the room and he asked me to give him some blood so he could get the results and everything else he has. I gave my consent as I watched Nurse Bradshaw enter the room carrying a transparent tab.

Dr. Steiner ties the upper part of my arm sleeve where he wants to stop the blood flow in order to access a vein as he rolls it up to my left arm. "All right, take deep breaths."

I tightened my grip on the armchair. As the point's sharp edge clung to my skin, I inhaled. I did feel brave for holding back on yelling and cursing the storm.

"All right, we're done." He spoke while applying cotton and tape to the wound. "Put your arm down there."

As implored, I put my arm down where it had been pricked and waited. Dr. Steiner examines the blood sample after seeing Nurse Bradshaw look into the microscope. He recorded some findings on the clipboard next to him. He returned to his desktop and saw the DNA results. He moved his body in front of the computer when I tried to see what pictures might appear on the screen. Now, I can't see anything.

Dr. Steiner turns his attention back to me.

"Mr. Brown?"

"Yes?" Camper and Jacob both said at the same time.

"Tucker Brown."

Camper got out of his seat and walked over to see Dr. Steiner. He wanted to check his blood, which was unfortunate.

"I'm terribly sorry, you want to draw blood from me?"

Dr. Steiner speaks more quietly. "Sir, we might want to go over some extreme measurements on your blood type for this kind of event."

"Fine. Let's get this thing over with."

I'm curious as to what the doctors need from him because I suspected this was about me. I have to know where my parents are.