It was just like any other day when the couple came to the orphanage. The sun had already risen high in the sky, lighting up the dull corridors with strong streaks of light that fell on the floor long and deep. Cassian sat in the small courtyard, viewing other children play, but he seemed to be outside looking in.
He'd grown accustomed to the rhythms, to the faces, to the soft-murmured secrets of the other kids, but he still felt like a ghost—one lingering in a world that had long since moved on past him. Absent-mindedly, he kicked at the dirt, catching sight of a pair of shoes entering his line of vision.
"Hello there!" a cheerful voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
Cassian opened his eyes to see a soft-haired woman in her early thirties, her hair cascading down her back in soft waves around her shoulders. Alongside her stood a tall man with an easy smile that seemed to radiate warmth. They both kneeled to his level, their eyes warm with kindness and curiosity.
"We are here to meet you," the woman said, her smile extending wider. "I'm Sarah, and this is my husband, Mark."
Cassian didn't react at first. He was used to adults coming and going, paying attention only to vanish as quickly as they arrived. Of course, this was quite different. Their presence felt less like a formality and more like an actual invitation.
"What's your name?" Mark whispered gently.
"Cassian," he muttered, unsure how to feel about their attention.
"Well, Cassian," Sarah went on, "we've been thinking about adopting a child. And when we heard about you, we felt like we needed to meet you."
The word adopt hung in the air, heavy with implications. He had heard other children talk about being adopted, about families who would take them home, but he had never allowed himself to hope for such a thing.
"What about the others?" he whispered, his voice barely audible, gazing toward the other children swinging on the swings. "Why me?"
Mark leaned over toward Sarah; their faces were thoughtful. "We know it's a big decision," he said quietly. "But we saw something special in you. We just want to give you a chance at a new life."
Cassian thought of something to say. He felt a flicker of something—a hope perhaps—but he quashed it immediately. Hope had only led him down a path littered with pain before. Still, as he looked at the couple, something in their eyes stirred a yearning deep within him.
"Do you like running?" Sarah asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
His brow furrowed in question. "Run?"
Mark laughed lightly. "We saw you run the other day. You move like the wind, so free and fast. How far can you go?"
Cassian shrugged, feeling the familiar heat spread through him at the mention of running. "I don't know... pretty far, I guess."
"Wanna show us?" Mark urged with hearty enthusiasm.
Hesitant, Cassian rose to his feet, not sure if this was a game or if they really wanted him to run. However, their look told him otherwise. He nodded.
He ran down the path; his legs ran in complete instinct. The rhythm of his heart quickened, and he felt again that exhilarating rush of freedom. His hair whipped back with the wind as he picked up speed, the world around him blurring into a wash of colors.
Laughter was ringing through from behind him, and he could not help but turn his head. Sarah and Mark were running after him, their laughter echoing out in the open air. It was a sound he had not heard in what seemed like a long time, one that could be described as happy.
He pushed himself harder and could feel the sting of adrenaline pumping through his veins. The distance from them was now growing wider, but he didn't care. He was alive and felt the weight of his past lift off him with every step.
Turning the corner and pausing for his breath, he stood up to face them. They stood a few feet away, panting but beaming with pride.
"Wow!" Sarah exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. "You are so fast! Do you ever think of running for competition?"
"No, I just run; I like it," he said, still catching his breath.
"Well, we'd love to help you train if you want," Mark told him, looking genuine in his expression. "You have a gift, Cassian, and we'd hate to see it go to waste."
This idea was foreign to him, but there was warmth starting to bloom inside his chest—a feeling that maybe this couple could see him, truly see him.
Everything seems to go into shift after that day. Pretty often, Sarah and Mark would visit, bringing small little gifts and spending time with him. They would inquire about his interest, listen to stories, and, most importantly, they never hesitated to talk about the harder things regarding his parents.
They made him feel safe, and slowly, there started to be a flicker of hope in his heart. It felt strange but comforting as well. Maybe, just maybe, he would allow himself to believe in this new beginning.
One evening, sitting together on the porch of the orphanage, Sarah reached over and took Cassian's hand into her own. "We are going to speak with the orphanage about adopting you," she said softly. "We think you would make a great addition to our family.".
The word adopt starts racing Cassian's heart. For the first time in months, something shifted within him—a need for belonging, a need to be loved. A family is so out there, but here it was, close enough he could almost touch it.