I sit down in the forest. This is where she first asked. "Gen? What would you think about becoming part of the family?"

I smile sadly at the memory. I had felt so touched, yet scared. Almost certain I wouldn't end up accepting, I simply told her I'd pray on it. I didn't think I  live with myself if I accepted. I couldn't start over. Elena... Mom... Dad...

But something just felt right about it when I spent that first couple of hours playing wii games with the Tolias. The kind of family love I'd been missing out on for four long years.

I pick up a rock and hurl it into the distance. Why is this so complicated? Just tell Aunt Cassie to go home, forget anything happened, and everything will go back to normal.

Why do I even try to lie to myself?

I sigh and push myself back onto my feet, not sure how long I've been gone and not wanting anyone to worry.

**********************

I carefully make my way through the front door, arriving back from my walk. Fresh tears still lingering on my cheeks. Glancing into the living room from the entryway, I see literally everyone is gathered in there. No one says a word. It looks painfully awkward.

I practically tiptoe into the the living room, hoping that by some miracle, no will stop me from turning the corner and flying up the stairs. But it's the quietest, most hesitant voice that makes me stop in my tracks.

"Gen?"

I turn to face the crowd and search for the source of the voice.

Josie's piercing blue eyes meet my gentle hazel ones. She has her dad's jet black hair. It's naturally curly and I remember I was always jealous of it. I am barely aware of everyone's eyes on us as we gaze into each other's. Josie tucks a loose curl behind her ear and slowly takes a step forward. "Hey," she says, as if we had just seen each other yesterday.

We're both twelve now but she looks so much more mature for her age.

"Hey." I can barely get the response out of my lips.

"Been a while," she laughs awkwardly. "Hardly recognize you."

Franklin attaches himself onto Josie's leg. He got more of his mother's traits. His blonde hair is neatly cut.

"I would still recognize you anywhere," I tell Josie with a smile. Then I hesitantly walk up to the two of them and squat a few feet away. "Franklin here, he's so big now."

He rubs his face against Josie's leg, shyly. It's cute, but it hurts. He doesn't even know who I am.

I stand back up, grateful that at least Josie remembers me. She sniffs a little and looks down to try and hide her oncoming tears. I open my arms, wanting to feel hers around me again. She accepts the offer and we hold each other. It's just like I remembered her loving embrace. She always gave the best hugs and that hasn't changed.

"I thought for sure you had died out on your own in the street," she whispers painfully. "I couldn't live with myself."

"None of this was in any way, shape or from your fault," I reply gently.

She gulps for air and says nothing. She holds me tight for the longest time. "I can't believe you're here, Josie."

I catch Bridget's eye for a moment. She looks like she doesn't know what to feel.

That's alright, neither to I after all.

Josie and I finally separate and she wipes her eyes. "Ugh," she groans jokingly. "Thanks a lot! You've turned me into a blubbering mess."

I chuckle and playfully shove her. Grabbing her hand, I give it a squeeze before letting it drop again.

"Did you run all the way here?" she asks.

"Lived off people's generosity until I found the soup kitchen here in town," I said with a hint of fun in my voice.

Josie shakes her head. "It's a miracle you're alive, really."

I don't know what to say to that so I just shrug.

"Nothing short of it," Josie pushes. "You lived off people's generosity from Lincoln to Omaha?" She shakes her head and looks at the ground.

From the corner of my eye I can see Michelle raise an eyebrow, shocked by what she had just heard. I shrug again.

"Really, I was kind of stupid for running," I admit.

The Tolias are all super confused by now, and I'm starting to get uncomfortable. Everyone's here, staring at me, while I'm just trying to talk to Josie.

Mr. T seems to catch the look on my face and motions for everyone to disperse. Hesitantly, Megan takes Lacy's hand and Michelle takes Liam's. They head towards the basement, Bridget on their heels. Mr. and Mrs. T head upstairs. Aunt Cassie looks lost as to where she should go. She walks up and pries Franklin off Josie's leg. She opens her mouth to say something before clamping it shut and running towards the upstairs.

Once she's out of sight, Josie leans in and starts the conversation where we left off. "You were an eight year old who lost your whole family at once. My mom was stupid. Foster homes... Everyone knows you're either stuck there or you just get tossed from family to family."

I shrug. "That's not necessarily true. Besides, she's a single mom with two kids-" I start, not even sure why I'm sticking up for Aunt Cassie.

"Stop trying to defend her. You don't have to pretend you don't hate her," Josie says putting a hand up.

I sigh. "Bouncing from home to home would've been smarter than the streets," I say, although I'm not sure I mean it.

Josie shakes her head and voices the argument I already have playing in my head. "I'm not sure it would."

She crosses her arms and furrows her eyebrows, considering this further in her head.

I sigh again. "What does it matter? I can't change what happened."

No matter how many times I wish Aunt Cassie would've taken me in. No matter how many times I wish Dad never went to war. No matter how many times I wish they would've got the shooter before he found my mom and sister.

Wishing has changed nothing.

Besides, if none of that would've happened, what about Lacy? She'd be... Gone. And her family wouldn't have even known she'd even had cancer.

Or would they have? What do I know?

And besides, what about Mom, Dad, and Elena?

I sit down on the couch and bury my head in my hands.

"Hey. You ok?" Josie says. I feel her sit down next to me and she starts rubbing my back. I pick up my head to look at her.

"A lot has happened," I say with a little laugh.

She rolls her eyes with a smile. "No kidding!" she teases.

I allow myself to giggle and take out my braid that has become a mess. Combing my hair with my hands, I sigh, "The world is complicated."

"Yeah, it is."

We just sit there for a moment, staring at the opposite side of the room. Then Joise says, "I assume Mom told you our doors are finally open to to. Four years late." She grumbles the last part. She seems more angry about the whole thing than I am.

I take a deep breath.

"Yeah."

"I wouldn't blame you if you never want to talk to that lady again."

I turn my head to look at her and then pat her on the shoulder.

It's not only what Aunt Cassie's  done that's bothering me. It's the fact that they're asking me to choose between two families. Two of my families.

How am I supposed to do that?