2 The Days At The Orphanage

Three Years Later:

After Shi Ai had stepped into the orphanage with the angel,her days were relatively simpler than her earlier life.Though she did not get any new parents,she got to make a lot of friends.In those friends,Shi Ai formed a family.

In the earlier days,she was questioned again and again about her identity but she remembered her sister's warnings.Every night she reminded herself that she was 5 years and her name was Shi Ai. Soon,her brain also came to believe those lies and buried her past memories-both the good and the bad.The only thing she remembered was that a tattered old blanket was precious to her.The days had fallen into a simple routine of studying,playing,cleaning and doing the same things all over again.Though the food at the orphanage was not much,the fact was that they at least had food.And so,though Shi Ai did not become healthy,her body was not as malnourished as before.

Her pretty face and gentle manner had made her the apple of everyone's eye.

On this day,Shi Ai was playing in the small garden behind the orphanage.Every so often,her gaze would shift to the door as if waiting for someone.Today was a Sunday and her angel sister always visited on this day.All the children loved to play with her.She always came bearing gifts or chocolates making them feel loved in her own special way. Shi Ai wanted to grow up and become like Sister Alicia when she grew up.She did not know what sister Alicia did for work but she knew that Alicia was kind and loving.

Today was a special day,because sister Alicia's birthday had just passed and they had prepared a surprise song and dance for her.Many of the children did not know their birthdays so Alicia had made them choose their own days and Shi Ai had chosen Alicia's birth date as her own.

The orphanage was home to thirty kids all between different ages 1 month up to the age 12 years.The children over the age of 12 years were then placed in foster homes..The kids currently playing in the garden were between the ages 5 and 10 years.

Shi Ai had turned 8 years this year and she was happy to have finally grown up!She had even grown a bit taller and chubbier from earlier.

Just then the doors opened and Alicia came in carrying different sized boxes with another person from the orphanage carrying similar packages.The children immediately ran to her and hugged her tightly almost toppling her over in the process.Laughingly the young woman put down her gifts and took all the twelve kids in a group hug.

They all started chattering at once making Alicia let out a giggle.She sat them down in a circle on the grass and heard their stories one by one.At the end of this,she was about to pass out the gifts when everyone stopped her.The kids ran to inside and brought out a small radio.Soon the children had formed a circle with Alicia in the middle and the radio was started to play an upbeat children's festive song.All the children laughed and danced clumsily making Alicia laugh and cry at the same time.Shi Ai laughed and jumped the hardest of all and finally all the kids fell on the floor happily.

Alicia was overwhelmed with happiness.Finally,she passes the gifts to the children and brought out a cake for everyone.As was their tradition,she held the birthday girl's hand(Shi Ai) this time and cut the cake.Everyone was satisfied with today's activities and they were all eager to open their gifts!

Shi Ai was the only one sitting with her gift still in her hand.She was sitting next to Alicia and playing with the funny scarf around her.Sister Alicia's scarf had funny pineapples on it...

Shi AI looked at Alicia and said,"Sister Alicia,do you have parents?"

Alicia looked at the little girl and shook her head,"Not anymore.They are now in heaven"

"Are my parents also in heaven then?"

"Maybe sweet girl"

The little girl nodded in thought but the next moment she suddenly fainted and fell across Alicia's lap.