Being transferred to the Hopeland Orphanage is just another change, completely out of your control. You don’t necessarily feel one way or the other about it, except maybe some mild worry. There’s supposed to be a lot of kids there, but who’s to say any of them will welcome a new addition, that any of them will even notice you?

A kind woman named Miss Melanie takes you to the courtyard, a bunch of the kids are playing, running around, squawking at one another, boisterous and completely oblivious to your arrival. Miss Melanie gives you some gentle encouragement and heads off inside.

Unsure how to approach the other kids first, you sit down on the sandy concrete, hugging your knees to your chest.

“Hey. When’d you get here?” A boy is standing in front of you.