We spent the night over at the hospital and Ella was finally discharged the next day, we took the morning bus together I had offered to skip school to see her off.

We sat at the last row silently, her gaze was fixed at the window and mine silently wondering why no one had come to see her - didn't they hear the news? Didn't anyone from the school attempt to call home? I couldn't stop myself from wondering but I couldn't ask Ella, I didn't want to pry, if she was going to let me in then I needed her to do it at her own pace...

The white bandage was still wrapped around her wrist and I watched as she nervously held it, I wanted to call out to her but was held back by the sudden stop of the bus.

“We're here” Ella smiled and led me down the bus and suddenly standing in front of the building, staring at it in shock answered a million questions I had in mind.

“I'm sorry... I never knew” were the only words that rushed out of my lips, it didn't feel right, I had no right to feel pity for her or at least I felt like I didn't.

“It's not so bad” she stretched out her hand to me and I held it, walking into the simple brown colour building made so many emotions run deep, I had never been to an orphanage and I never knew it, that she had no one... Not once did it come to my mind and now knowing the truth made so many things clear.

“Ella!”  A little nice voice called out to her and then an even smaller girl ran into Ella's arms hugging her so tightly. “Where have you been, sister's been worried” her innocent blue eyes stared at Ella, probably expecting an explanation, her long blonde hair making her look even cuter?

“I was at a friend's house” Ella lied. It was then that the little girl realized my presence, she couldn't be more than eight years old.

“Hello” she smiled brightly at me, her eyes gleaming like a beautiful crystal, it was sad how cruel life was to deprive such a charming girl of a family, of a home to call her own. I had really closed my eyes to the world unaware of the real things worth living for.

“Hello!” I smiled brightly at her, waving my hands playful.

“I'm Theodore” she placed her hand on her chest briefly “And you are?”

“Paige” I answered. “I'm a new friend of Ella”

“I can tell” a different voice spoke from the corner and revealed himself from the shadows, he was about Ella's age, but he looked a bit taller and smarter with his short black hair, and green nerdy eyes.

“Ella never really has many friends” he completed.

“Shut up mark” Theodore snapped at him, she seemed so defensive of Ella but Ella didn't mind she looked already used to mark's teasing.

“You're in so much trouble... Sister Martha has been worried sick, com'on we need to tell her the prodigal son has returned” mark grabbed Ella's arms leading her up the stairs while Theodore and I followed behind them.

***

“Ella I have been worried sick” sister Martha's voice echoed in the small empty room. “Where have you been?” She asked with so much concern.

“My friends house” Ella answered and I waved my hand calmly in the air to be made known.

“And the bandage?” she questioned suspiciously. “Hope you didn't attempt another suicide mission”

Ella remained silent, and I was shocked to find out this wasn't her first attempt to take away her life. “No sister... Slicing pepper” she finally answered and instantly I could see the relieved expression on sister Martha's humble face, she was dressed in her black and white garment with a rosary at the side of her clothe.

“You can go now... Nice to met you miss Paige”

“Likewise” I answered with a soft nod and followed them out the door and into their little room.

It was filled with four bunk beds, the little room gave eight heads shelter, The room was a bit old and rusty but it was manageable enough to live in.

Ella and I took a sit on her bed while Theodore and mark played around a bit giving us the space, we needed to talk or at least the space I needed to pour out my thoughts.

“I never knew” I finally spoke, we were never close until now but I found myself feeling guilty.

“You don't have to feel bad, no one those. I wanted it that way... It was best that way, it attracts less attention, fewer questions” she paused for a moment “...and less pity, I don't want that, as sad as it seems am happy here, I never grew up in a family but with them I was able to realize what having a family truly meant”

“Then why did you do it?... If you're happy, if you don't feel sad why do you do it countless times, why do you attempt to end something so precious over and over again”

“I don't know” she answered, turning her face away in shame, but she was sincere, she couldn't understand why she did it over and over again.

“Don't hide it... I heard what Mr Alexandra had said”
And in despair, she bit her lips hoping I could retake the statement I had just made, wishing I had not been there to watch such a horrible moment.

“Not all orphans are privileged to education, and I am, but am just not good enough, no matter how much I try am just not fit for it” Ella wept and I could understand her pain, even being among the best was never easy, you always have to try to stay in place, struggling in a no man's land for a place you feel you rightly deserve, does life really have to be this hard?

“But no, everything is going to change” I wrapped her into my arms, cleaning her innocent tears.

“I'm here now and am going to help you, am going to change everything, am going to give you a million reasons to live”

“You're like the sister I never had” she spoke in her little sniffs

“And you're like the sister I always wanted”

***
“It's raining!” Theodore's loud voice filled the room, awakening everyone from their happy slumber.

“It's raining!” she screamed again and when everyone had rubbed away the sleep from their eyes and finally realized what she was saying all their eyes lit up, I was so shocked how the fall of rain could make everyone so glad, even Ella seemed giddy.

“Fun time!” Mark screamed and immediately everyone rushed out the room and out the front door into the rain, it seemed so fun as they ran around playing so happily like a big happy family and when Ella, Theodore and mark caught me silently standing by the door away from the rain they rushed for me, dragging me into the pouring rain, splashing and kicking water on one another, it actually felt fun and incredibly nice, out loud screams filled the air and the only thing passers-by could do was admire the scenario, some crazy ones actually joined the fun.

“Com'on kids you'll catch a cold!” the sisters screamed, they were three all in front of the door and like me they didn't hesitate to pull them into the fun... Ella was right, the orphanage wasn't much but it was magical enough to put a smile on everyone's faces... It was home.

A/N: so i really miss having wattpad friends to really talk to, you don't have to be a reader, send me a message i would love to be friends too, plus am easy to talk to😂😅
pls don't forget to click the cute star and leave your comments below❤