Lams || Orphan AU

1

John sighed, clutching the small bag he had in his hand tighter as he glanced up at the gates in front of him.

Revolutionary Orphanage.

Was spelled out in rusty, uncleaned metal letters across the top of the gate. It was quite obvious from just a single glance nobody had bothered to clean the gate in a long time. Why did it matter?

There was no point anymore.

Everyone important was gone.

What was the point in going on?

He shook his head as he felt the threat of tears, he couldn't be seen for the first time crying. He wouldn't be known as the kid who couldn't handle what happened.

Besides, who knew what might be waiting in here?

There could be bad people, and who knew what they could do.

Why has this happened to him?

John reached out quietly, opening the gate.

Creeeeeaaaaaakkkk.

The gate seemed to protest it being open, voicing John's own thoughts. He didn't want to be opening this gate, he wanted to be back in Carolina, with his siblings.. no, he couldn't think of them right now, not if he wanted to get through this.

He headed back down the stone path, knocking on the door at the front of the orphanage. He waited quietly, observing the old and unpainted walls. It looked as if the Orphanage was in desperate need of fixing, and it would be probably be even worse on the inside.

The door opened up, and a shortish lady was there, he blinked down at her, unsure of what he could say to her.

There was another thing to add to the list of things wrong with him, he was awkward.

Ever since he had got into this situation, he had been adding to a list of what was wrong with him.

She nodded up at him, "John Laurens, I presume..?" It was supposed to be a statement, but it came out as a question instead.

He nodded, "Yes." His voice sounded weird, even to himself, he hadn't spoken to anybody in a very long time.

She smiled, but it seemed fake, something like sadness laced it, which made sense. She didn't want another orphan, it meant another unwanted child.

Unwanted?

He paused, considering what he had just thought.

Yeah, he was unwanted.

It made sense.

Who would want someone as pathetic as him?

"My name is Theodosia." She stated, "You can call me Ms. Theo."

John blinked down at her, she didn't look that much older than him. Maybe a few years? But he nodded quietly, deciding he didn't want to hear his voice again for awhile.

He followed after her as she suddenly turned, walking down the hall.

John glanced at the walls as they passed them, many pictures littered them of kids and activities, meaning at least the place was sentimental.