Natalie Stewards sighed heavily as she hung the last shirt on the line. She wiped her sweat stained cheeks with the back of her hand as her upturned grey eyes gazed at the clear blue sky. Natalie was done with her chores for the day, and she could finally relax. She turned to the large building behind her, and a smile spread across her face.
Brentwood orphanage, stood tall and high. The rigid structure and the defined outlines made it seem like a fortress. As far as Natalie could remember, she had spent her whole life in this orphanage. All the happy memories she made where all in this orphanage. It was a place Natalie called home. The sisters were nice and everyone was friendly.
"Natalie!" Several high pitched voices chirped behind her.
Natalie's mind was forcefully broken away from reminiscing. She turned to the direction of the squealing voices and saw a whole pack of children running towards her. They ran up to her and crowded around her like bees on a pollen.
"Natalie! Natalie! Are you going to play with us again?!" One of the children beamed at her with twinkling eyes.
"Yeah! You promised you'd play with us today!" another one chirped.
They all began to look at her expectantly and Natalie couldn't help but chuckle at her adorable they looked. She knelt down on one knee and gave the child in front of her a pat on the head.
Natalie was the eldest girl in the orphanage and often had to look after the younger ones. Once every girl in the orphanage turns 18, the director sends them off to college and they begin their lives. Natalie was the only girl left that was old enough to take care of the younger children.
Natalie was turning 18 tomorrow and the thought of leaving and becoming your own person was exciting to Natalie. She wanted to go to the city and explore. Thinking about it made her heart thump with anticipation. She looked at the children around her and sighed. Then again, leaving would mean she wouldn't get to spend time with them anymore, so Every moment with them mattered to her.
"Of course. I made a promise and a promise can't be broken, right."
Squeals erupted from around her as they children threw their hands up in the air in excitement. She stood up straight and they all rushed to grab her hands, each of them holding on to her fingers.
"Let's play tennis!"
"No, soccer!"
"noooo, I wanna play with the dollhouse!"
Natalie chuckled and let them argue about what game to play. She looked around and noticed someone was missing.
"Hmm, let's see. One, two, three, four....seven. seven?" Natalie frowned and looked at each child.
"Where's Stacy?"
The children looked at each other and shrugged.
"Shes been in her room all day."
Natalie was starting to get worried.
"Why? Is she okay?"
"She's fine! She's fine! Come one let's go play!" one child bellowed and the rest began to pull her to the field.
"Alright, alright, let's go."
"Girls."
They all turned to their left and saw a nun walking towards them.
"Sister Lily, good morning." Natalie said with a smile.
Sister Lily was a nun and the director of the orphanage. She was a young woman in her late twenties. She was a mellow woman and barely talked a lot, but she always had a warm smile on her face. Sister Lily was always friendly to every child and never even scolded them harshly. Natalie felt comfortable whenever she was around.
"Its time for breakfast." She announced.
The children let out a disappointed whine.
"Don't worry, we'll play afterwards." Natalie reassured them.
She hushed them as sister Lily led them all into the orphanage to have breakfast.
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"Natalie...Natalie!"
Natalie groaned as she turned to her side. She opened her eyes slowly and saw a child standing in front of her bed. Natalie yawned and rubbed her eyes as she sat up on the bed. She flicked on the lamp beside her and blinked.
"Lin? What's the matter? Do you need to pee?" Natalie asked the brown haired girl standing in front of her.
Lin frowned and shook her head.
"Stacy, something's wrong with Stacy."
Natalie was wide awake now.
"Whats wrong with her? Is she hurt?" Natalie questioned.
"No, but she's breathing really heavily and sweating buckets." Lin said.
Natalie threw the covers away and jumped out of bed. She walked out of her room, Lin running behind her as they walked down the corridor. Natalie opened the children's door softly, trying as much as possible to quiet down the characteristic squeak the door makes in order not to wake the children up.
She was successful and walked into the room. Natalie tiptoed past the bed of sleeping children and approached Stacy's bed. The blonde haired child was breathing heavily and sweating profusely just like Lin had said. Natalie placed her hand on Stacy's forehead and felt how hot she was.
"You're burning up Stacy. Looks like a fever." She muttered.
"Natalie?" Stacy managed to say.
"Yeah, it's me. Just hold on for a bit, I'll go get some medicine." Natalie reassured her.
Stacy nodded and closed her eyes as she kept heaving heavily.
"Lin, I'm trusting you to watch Stacy for me until I get back. Can you do that?"
Lin nodded vigorously and Natalie smiled at her confidence. She took one more look at Stacy and tiptoed out of the room. She walked down the corridor and paused. Where exactly was she going to get medicine from? The nurses wouldn't be around by this time. Natalie pondered on it a bit and decided to meet sister Lily and inform her about Stacy's condition.
Natalie continued walking down the corridor until a set of stairs were in view. She walked up the stairs to the second floor and walked up to sister Lily's office. Sister Lily was always working late, so Natalie was hoping that she would be there, working late as usual. She exhaled and knocked on the door lightly. She waited and listen for a response, but she got nothing.
She knocked a few more times, an still no response. Natalie was getting anxious as she thought about Stacy's condition.
"Damn it." Natalie cursed and placed her shaky hands on the door knob. The director had resounded it in their ears about how her office was off limits to them. She made it clear to them every time and warned them harshly about what would happen if they went in. But Natalie was desperate.
She twisted it and to her surprise, she heard a click. Natalie swung the door open slowly as her heart began to thump faster.