Lose Yourself

Prologue

6 years ago

     It was a day like any other. I was, once again, being adopted by another family.  I had the same empty feeling in the pit of my stomach, the same sadness that had been left in me when I was left on the doorstep of a foster home. My whole life was a repeated disappointment and I could do nothing to get out of the never ending loophole that I was stuck in.

     I break out of my gaze as I look over to the driver seat of the van to see Linda concentrating hard on the rode. She had been the one that drove me to my new parents for the past 12 years.

     "Linda?" I said silently but loud enough for her to hear. She didn't take her gaze off the road as she nodded at me to let me know I had her full attention. "Do you think I'll ever find a permanent home?" I ask repeating the same question that I always did while switching families.

     Sometimes her answer changed and sometimes she wouldn't answer at all. It was only a matter of whether she had an answer that would suffice my 12 year old needs.

     "Honestly Arabella, we all belong somewhere, it's just the matter of finding where that somewhere is. Maybe the past families hadn't been the parents that would be with you through thick and thin, but there is someone out there for you." Linda smiles looking back at me with her happy eyes.

    I nod satisfied with her answer. Linda parks the car in front of a typical California house, I get my bags from the car and I look down at my feet as my two new 'parents' walk out of their house with giddy smiles on their faces. I was too scared to look up.

     "This is Arabella. She doesn't talk much once you've met her, trust me she is a sweetheart." Linda states looking over at me and putting her hand on my back and pushing me forward. 

     I look up at the two happy people before me. I keep my face straight as I look over at them. My new 'Mom' reached her hand towards me for me to take. I hesitated before taking it and slinging my maroon backpack over my shoulders.

     "Wait." I stop suddenly causing them to stop walking as well. I slipped my hand out of my 'mothers' and I ran towards Linda and gave her a bear hug.

     Linda stopped to look at me before opening her mouth to speak "Arabella I have a feeling that this family is the one." She whispered before pushing away gently.

     I gave her a small smile as I looked over to my new parents. Maybe they would stay, maybe they would give me back. I guess I will never know unless I take a step forward and actually act like the daughter they asked for.

      I run back to my family with a grin as they walked me into my new house and Linda drove away and I was questioning whether this loophole would continue or if I would finally be free from the loophole that was my life.

***

     I had learned in the past few hours of knowing my parents that they were both really fond of swimming. So they immediately took me to the beach after buying me a swimsuit. Not that I was complaining.

     It was getting dark outside. The sun set over the ocean slowly as my new Mom and Dad rolled out their towels to lay on in the sand.

     "You can go swimming sweetie, just stay where I could see you." My Dad said as he saluted to me. I gave him a simple nod as I looked over to see a boy with a frantic look in his eyes and a gleam on his cheeks as he sat at the shore.

     I soon learned that the 'gleam' was tears as I got closer to him. I knelt beside him as he looked over at me.

     "Heyo, what's wrong?" I ask trying to lighten the mood and help him out. I felt so helpless when it came to helping people but I was determined to make a difference in someone's life.

      "I lost m-my necklace." The boy said with a stutter as he looked at me with eyes full of tears. "It was all I had left of my father..Then before I knew it, it was off of my neck and being taken away by a monster!"

      "A monster?" I asked curiously as I looked out in the ocean. There isn't an ocean monster is there? I hope there isnt.

      "Well it--it was a wave but the wave was a monster for taking away the only thing I had ever had to remember my Dad." The boy elaborated.

      I nodded before getting up. The boy looked up at me afraid I would walk away and leave him to handle his problems on his own. To his suprise, I walked into the ocean fully clothed.

     I walked until the water was up to my knees. I started shuffling in the water looking for his necklace. The small amount of light disappeared and it was dark.

     "What are you doing?" They boy asked as he got up from his kneeling position.

     "Looking for your necklace. You didn't think I would leave you here did you?" I said looking back at him with a toothy smile and twinkling eyes.

     "That's impossible..You're not gonna find it there's an entire ocean out there!" The boy disencouraged as his arms shot out to emphasize the ocean.

      "It can't be too far.." I say to myself more than the boy. I look over the ocean as I see glow from a small wave coming towards me. My eyes widen as I see a golden chain necklace rolling along with the wave.

     I ran towards the wave as I snatch it from the wave and jumped with excitement.

      "Impossible, huh?" I yell towards him dangling the necklace. His eyes lit up as he ran into the waters and wrapped his arms around me into a hug. I pull away with a smile as I put the necklace around his neck.
  
"Chase."

"What?"

"My name is Chase."

"Oh. My name is Arabella."

      I turn around to see my mom standing there. She is smiling at me with an emotion I can't identify. I walk over to her ready to be lectured for being soaked.

     "Honey..That was so nice of you." I stare at her with confusion and shock on my face.

     "What?" I ask as I look up at her.

     "You helped that little boy even though you knew there was no hope in finding that necklace. Don't change for anyone, this proves that for being nice you get payed for it." My gaze softens as she continues "No matter what happens always stay true to yourself and always help others.. You may not know it yet but those are the things you will remember. The smile of gratitude on people's face is enough accomplishment for you, but later in life you will get what you deserve. Always do the right thing Arabella, no matter how impossible it is."

     That was the moment that my little black heart unknowingly became a little less black.

***
S

orry that the prologue is very short I just felt weird going straight to the present after seeing the prologue from 6 years later.
Does that make sense?
-Em