Chapter 95: Unwanted
"Most of them have homes they live in, with their parents or relatives who were kind enough to take them in," Daniella explained as she led Amelia down the street.
The more they journeyed, the rougher the roads looked. Some of the lightbulbs were already flickering, and if it weren’t for the fact that it was in the middle of the day, Amelia would’ve been blind as a bat.
"But there are some who don’t have parents or relatives who are able to care for them," Daniella continued, sighing. "So they live in the orphanage. It’s just down the street, and where I mainly am stationed for work."
At the end of the road was a small building. It was about three floors up with a rickety front gate and walls that looked like they had seen better days. For one thing, the paint was peeling off. For another, wherever the paint still stuck to the cement, there was mold.
A few younger children played outside on the front lawn, and when they saw Daniella, bright smiles quickly erupted on their faces. However, the moment they caught sight of Amelia, those smiles dimmed quickly. They all but got up and dashed into the orphanage, slamming the doors behind them.
"They’re not very friendly, are they," Amelia commented, frowning. She didn’t care that the children weren’t friendly to her. However, if this was how they were like on a daily basis, it wouldn’t be good for their adoption chances.
"They’re not," Daniella agreed with a sigh. "Which is why it’s difficult to pull funds for the foundation. The children are mainly just shy, but the teenagers..." Daniella exhaled loudly again. Through the walk here, it seemed like she had aged a decade. "Well, you’ll understand when you meet them."
Daniella pushed open the gates and Amelia followed her into the orphanage. The moment she stepped into the front doors, a soccer ball came soaring in her direction. Amelia gasped, swerving to one side just in the nick of time before the ball could bust her nose. It went flying right out the open door and onto the road.
Thankfully, there were barely any cars in the area. It bounced a short distance away before coming to an eventual stop.