Luna stood at the weathered gate of the old orphanage, her heart pounding against her ribcage like a caged animal desperate to escape. The towering brick building loomed before her, a fortress of memories she had tried to forget but could never truly escape. The once-vibrant paint was peeling, and the garden, now overgrown with weeds, seemed to mirror her chaotic life. She took a deep breath, steadying herself as she pushed the gate open with a creak that echoed in the still air.
Each step toward the entrance felt like a march toward her fate. Memories flooded her mind—days spent in the dimly lit halls, the distant laughter of children who had come and gone, and the face of the manager who had been both a guardian and a tormentor. Luna had spent years trying to piece together the fragments of her past, driven by a singular obsession: finding her real family. Today, she had gathered every ounce of courage to seek the answers she desperately needed.
As she entered the building, the familiar scent of aged wood and dust wrapped around her like a shroud. The reception area was as she remembered it—stark, cold, and devoid of warmth. An elderly woman sat behind the desk, her sharp gaze assessing Luna as if she could see right through her.
"What do you want?" the manager snapped, her tone as frosty as the air outside.
Luna's heart raced, but she forced herself to meet the woman's gaze. "I'm looking for information about my parents. I was raised here, and I need to know if there's anything—anything at all."
The manager's expression hardened, her lips curling into a dismissive sneer. "Your parents? They left you here, didn't they? If they wanted you, they would've come back. We don't keep records on every child who passes through these doors."
"I know, but please…" Luna's voice cracked, desperation spilling over. "I need to know why they left me. I need to know if they wanted me. I can't move on until I understand."
The manager leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms with a scoff. "You think you're special, don't you? You think you deserve answers just because you waltzed back in here? Look at you—another lost soul. Probably on drugs like the rest of them."
Luna felt the heat of shame rise in her cheeks, but she refused to let it defeat her. "I'm not like that. I've changed. I've worked hard to overcome my past. I just want to find out who I am. Please, can you check the records? Maybe there's something—anything."
The manager rolled her eyes, a gesture dripping with disdain. "This isn't a charity, and we don't have time to indulge your little fantasies. If you want answers, go ask the streets. They've seen plenty of orphans who think they can find their parents."
Luna's heart sank at the words, each one a sharp dagger piercing through her resolve. "You don't understand," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need to know if I have a family out there. If they're looking for me."
"Looking for you?" the manager laughed harshly, the sound echoing in the empty hall. "Your parents didn't want you. You were just another burden to them. They didn't care, and you think they suddenly want to reconnect? You're wasting your time."
Luna's fists clenched at her sides, fighting the tears that threatened to spill over. "You don't know that! You don't know what they went through or what their reasons were! Just look! Please!" She gestured toward the dusty shelves behind the manager, where files of children lay forgotten.
The manager's eyes narrowed, annoyance flickering across her features. "This is not a game. If you can't accept the truth, then maybe you should just leave."
Luna felt her throat tighten, emotions swirling within her like a tempest. "I deserve to know!" she shouted, her voice echoing against the barren walls. "I deserve to know where I came from!"
"Deserve? What do you think you deserve?" The manager leaned forward, a sneer twisting her lips. "You deserve nothing. You're just another statistic—an unwanted child who couldn't find a place in the world. Now, get out before I call security."
The words struck Luna like a physical blow, and for a moment, she felt the weight of despair crash down on her. But as quickly as it came, determination surged within her. She wouldn't let this woman's cruel words define her. "You may see me as nothing," she said, her voice steady, "but I'm more than just a child of this orphanage. I'm fighting to find my family, and you won't stop me."
The manager waved her hand dismissively. "You think your little bravado will change anything? This place has seen countless children come and go. Most of them end up like you—druggies and lost causes. You really think you're different?"
Luna's chest tightened with anger and sadness. "I'm not a drug addict," she said firmly. "I've worked hard to get clean and make something of myself. I have a life now. I want to find my family, and I won't give up."
"Then you're wasting your breath," the manager retorted, her tone icy. "You're not going to find anything here. You were abandoned. Get used to it."
With those words, the walls of the orphanage felt like they were closing in around Luna. She stood frozen for a moment, fighting the urge to crumble under the weight of the manager's words. "I'll find them," she declared, a fierce fire igniting in her chest. "Even if it means searching every corner of this world, I will find my family."
"You think you can just waltz in here and demand answers? It doesn't work like that," the manager snapped, leaning back in her chair, dismissing Luna with a wave of her hand.
Luna turned away, heart pounding and anger coursing through her veins. She couldn't let this woman's contempt extinguish her hope. Each step toward the door felt heavy, the atmosphere thick with unresolved pain and longing.
As she stepped outside, the cool air hit her like a splash of cold water, grounding her momentarily. But the pain of rejection clawed at her insides, and the tears she had been holding back finally spilled over. She leaned against the wall, breathing heavily as the tears streamed down her face.
"Why?" she whispered to herself, anger and sadness mixing into a storm of emotions. "Why can't they just tell me something? I just want to know…"
She took a moment to compose herself, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand. She wasn't going to let them break her. Luna had fought too hard to let some bitter woman take away her hope.
With renewed determination, she pushed herself off the wall and began to walk away from the orphanage, her heart still aching but fueled by the promise she made to herself. She would find her family, no matter the cost. Even if it meant scouring every lead, every rumor, every whisper of her past, she wouldn't stop until she found them. The manager's words echoed in her mind, but she wouldn't let them be the end of her story.
"Just because they abandoned me doesn't mean I'm not worth finding," she muttered under her breath, steeling herself against the harsh world that lay ahead. "I will find my family. I will make them see me."
As she walked away from the orphanage, Luna felt the weight of her past lingering behind her, but the path ahead shimmered with the promise of hope. She was determined to rewrite her narrative and reclaim her identity, no matter how painful the journey might be.