The Other Children

Chapter 2:

The Other Children

Alex awoke to the sound of other children laughing outside his door. He got up and walked to the door, opening it a crack to see what was going on. Down the hallway, he saw a group of children playing a game of tag. They looked happy and carefree, something that Alex had not felt in a long time.

As he walked down the hallway, the children stopped playing and looked at him, sizing him up. They whispered to each other, and Alex felt self-conscious. Hadn't they ever seen a new kid before?

One of the children, a girl with long blonde hair, approached him. She introduced herself as Katie and asked if he wanted to play with them. Alex, feeling a bit shy, nodded his head.

Katie led the group in a game of hide-and-seek, and Alex soon found himself having fun. For the first time since coming to the orphanage, he was laughing and joking like a normal kid. He felt like he had made some friends.