You sat at the table, your younger brother and sister nestled on either side of you, their small hands resting on the worn wooden surface. Anxiety twisted in your stomach as you looked up at your foster parents, Simon and Anna.

They had sat you down, their expressions unreadable, saying they had big news to share.

Your chest tightened.

This was it. They had finally tired of you. Just like all the others.

Simon and Anna moved slowly, carefully placing a cake in front of you. Your eyes dropped to the frosting, your brows knitting together in confusion as you read the words written across it in careful piping.

December 10th.

Simon grinned widely. “Can anyone guess what that date is?” he asked, voice filled with something you couldn’t quite place.

Your sister tilted her head, brows furrowed. “Vacation?” she guessed hesitantly.

Anna shook her head, her warm gaze flickering between you three. “Guess again, my darlings.”

Your baby brother, blissfully unaware of the tension in the air, simply licked at the icing, utterly content. You found yourself smiling at him, soaking in his innocence, before glancing back up.

“Can you just tell us?” you asked quietly, uncertainty lacing your words.

Before Anna or Simon could respond, your sister suddenly gasped, eyes going wide.

“Are we getting adopted?” she blurted out.

The room seemed to freeze for a moment.

Then, Simon and Anna’s smiles widened, their eyes shining. They nodded.

Your sister squealed, bouncing up and down in her seat, pure joy radiating off of her.

Your breath caught.

A flood of emotions surged through you, too heavy, too overwhelming. Relief, disbelief, happiness—all crashing into you at once. You had a place now. A home.

You didn’t have to be the protector anymore. You didn’t have to carry the weight of keeping your baby siblings safe, of watching over them every second, terrified of what would happen if you didn’t.

They were safe.

A shaky breath left you as your vision blurred. and the tears you had been holding back for years spilled free.