"SHIRLEY TWINS, GET IN HERE AT ONCE!" The matron called out from inside her office at Saint Albans Orphanage, the two red-headed girls scurrying inside.

"Yes, ma'am? Is there a problem?" Anne mustered out nervously as she and her sister, Anastasia, sat down in the two chairs in front of her desk.

The matron ignored her, humming to herself quietly while scribbling on the papers scattered across her desk. Anne watched nervously and curiously while Anastasia fiddled with the old lace at the bottom of her dress, unbothered by whatever the reason may be for their presence in her office.

The matron sighed as she finished signing her last form, peering over at the twins as she said, "You're leaving tomorrow, both of you, to the same home. Pack your things."

Anastasia and Anne's eyes widened as the latter spoke excitedly, "Oh, how splendid! I can't believe there's a home that will gladly take us both!" The matron glared at the talkative girl, who sunk in her seat.

"Come on, Anne, let's go pack," Anastasia said with a small smile as she squeezed her sister's hand. Anne nodded as she squeezed back, and although the gesture was small, it meant so much more to the Shirley twins.

"Oh, Ana, aren't you just excited?" Anne began as the two walked back to their room they shared with the other orphan girls. "We get to have a fresh new start together! And I assume since this kind family has taken us both, they will need all the help they can get, so I assume we will be very busy—"

Anastasia sighed, having had enough of her sister's continuous rambling and interrupted by grabbing her by the shoulders. "Anne, breathe," Anastasia reminded her sister, who paused with a small nod and inhaled slowly, exhaling. "Sometimes I think you forget that breathing is a necessity, which is why punctuation is used."

"Yes, I know, I'm sorry, I just can't contain my excitement!" Anne grinned as she jumped and flung herself down onto her bed. "I don't know, Ana, I just have a good feeling about this one."

Anastasia joined her sister by lying next to her on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. "You said that last time, look at how well that turned out."

"I know, but I truly mean it this time," Anne sighed. "There's something in my heart telling me that this could be our forever home."

"And maybe you're right," Anastasia sat up, holding her sister's hand as she looked into her lively blue eyes. "But I just don't want you to get your hopes up. There's no way to know if what you're feeling is true until we get there, and if it's like last time, I don't want your hopes to be crushed. Just be cautious of your emotions, okay, Anne?"

Anne nodded. "I will try my very hardest to do so. But until then, we pack!" She shot up out of the bed and dug under it, looking for anything she may need to pack, Anastasia doing the same.

Soon enough the next morning came, the girls heading out as early as they could to avoid any possible "goodbyes" from other jealous orphans due to their departure.

They arrived at the train station with their belongings, squeezing each other's hand as they sat down on the train. Although Anastasia was excited like her sister, she couldn't help but feel her heart's pace quicken slightly; she was afraid this next home would end up like the others, perhaps even worse. Their past experiences—whether together or separate—all ended the same, where the two girls were back at the Saint Albans Orphanage together, miserable.

"I know that face, so I know what you're thinking, Ana," Anne began with a small smile. "We're going to be okay. As long as we're together, it doesn't matter where we are, because what I call home is where my family is, and my family is you."

Anastasia smiled, her sister's too contagious. The Shirley twins stared out the window as the train began to leave the station, Anne's words stuck in Anastasia's mind like glue.

"You're right, Anne; so I guess we're going home."

•••

A/N: wattpad deleted the last half of this and i'm so angry because it was really good and now it's not because i forgot what i wrote so THANKS WATTPAD 😭

i also spent way too long on that gif banner 🤧

anyway i hope you all enjoyed this chapter! if so please don't forget to vote comment and share because i love your feedback!

thanks, until next time ;)