Problems of an Invisible Girl

Chapter 20

After three weeks had passed since Serena left, Rina was happy to see her waiting for her in front of the school gate. Rina was also pleased that, what she thought Serena, helped her out and that she could control her invisibility. Upon greeting each other, they decided to go to the nearby coffee shop, since they were both visible, they thought a cup of coffee would be a good idea. Once they settled in comfortably, waiting for their coffees, Rina couldn't help but ask: "So how did it go? Did you find the closure you were looking for?" "I guess, I have, in a way. My foster parents were shocked to see me again. They actually hoped I had run away and were scared I would insist on staying. You can imagine how eager they were to give me any and all information they had about me, as long as it meant I would never 'bother' them again. It's not much, but I got the name of the hospital I was left at and the date, so that might be helpful at least. As for my friend, he was worried about me but I reassured him that I was fine. He tried to convince me to stay, but I knew I couldn't. You and I have to figure this out, and he has too many problems as it is, for me to bother him with my own as well would be cruel. At least now, we will stay in touch and I think I reassured him enough not to worry too much about me. Great guy as he is, he is always trying to help out, even if it means hurting himself in the process, so I have to keep him out of this. What about you? Have you learned anything interesting?" Serena asked.

"It depends on what you consider interesting," Rina said sighing deeply. "I finally understand why my family has never been able to accept me and treat me with some semblance of respect. They told me in the most insensitive way possible, that I was adopted. So I guess, you and I, we are not so different after all." Seeing Serena's shocked expression Rina recounted everything that happened since she left. When Rina finally finished telling her about all the details she could barely control her voice and the tears that welled up in her eyes. For a few minutes, Serena had no idea what to do or say. She just awkwardly patted Serena's hand saying: "There, there, everything will be okay. " Noticing how uncomfortable she was making her only friend, Rina did her best to put her emotions under lock and key. It was clear that Serena was not used to the displays of emotion, and she had no idea what to do if she saw someone cry. For some people, it was difficult to figure out how to react in those kinds of situations. "I'm sorry. I guess it still bugs me a bit." Rina said, and then they both burst out laughing at her obvious understatement. That made her feel so much better. It was an amazing feeling for Rina, to have a friend with whom she could talk honestly, and laugh with. The last time she laughed like that with someone, was when she visited her great-grandma Zizi two years before. She couldn't believe that it had been so long since she had fun with another human being.

When they finally stopped laughing, Serena said: "You know, that actually sounds like it might be an important piece of information in finding out why we, two complete strangers, share this same ability. The only connection between the two of us, that I can see, is the adoption. Maybe we were adopted through the same adoption agency, and maybe that has something to do with what is happening to us. What is the name of the adoption agency your parents used?" "Honestly, I have no idea. I haven't spoken to any of them since they told me that I was adopted. It's difficult for me to stay in the same house with them having in mind how they broke the news to me, and how much they don't seem to care about me. How can they not consider me as a member of their family? I grew up there and gave them, all the love and affection, I could master. Why couldn't they do the same?" Rina couldn't help but wonder. "Don't think about that too much or you might turn invisible here and now." Serena cautioned her. "Listen, I can't say that I understand exactly what you are going through, but I do know a few things about being rejected, about being invisible. The best thing you can do, for yourself, is not let that break you. Now, I know that it is difficult, but I think you will have to try to get some information from your family. It might be important for us to figure out why this is happening to us. Maybe we will find your biological parents. They must know something." Listening to Serena, Rina was at first ready to say no. She even got angry at Serena, for asking something like that, but after she mentioned Rina's biological parents, Rina changed her mind. If it meant learning something new about them, she would talk with the people who refused to love her or even acknowledge her. For some reason, she felt the need to know who she was, where she came from. Her old identity was shattered when she learned the truth and to build the new self, she needed to know more about her roots.

After promising to talk with her family, Rina and Serena went their separate ways, having arranged to meet the next day at the same cafe, at the same time. As she was walking home, Rina tried to figure out who would be the best person to talk to about her adoption. The only logical choice was her mom, but she wasn't sure if she would tell her everything she needed to know. Her brothers would probably tell her everything, and more than she wanted to know, but they would be cruel about it. Having realized that she wouldn't be able to stand their rudeness and cruelty, she decided to talk with her mother. She kept thinking of that woman as her mother, although she knew she was just her adoptive mother, Grace. Once she arrived home, she realized that luck was on her side. Grace was in a very good mood, which was quite rare for her. "Can we talk?" Rina whispered. "Sure, why not?" Was the chipper reply. For some reason, Rina found that voice eerie, probably because Grace never used it when talking with her. It seemed to Rina that by telling her the truth, she stopped trying so hard to make her feel unwelcome. She already used her words to express that, there was no need for additional venom. Also, the drink she was holding in her hand might have had something to do with her good mood. Whatever it was, Rina decided to take advantage of the woman's good mood.

"What can you tell me about my adoption? You said you found me in a church? Was there anything else there? Do you know who my parents were? Which adoption agency did you use?" Rina was unable to stop the flood of questions that kept pouring out when she was finally faced with the possibility to know who she truly was. "Oh, too many questions. My head is spinning. I don't have the patience for all this. Why don't you just go through that wooden chest with all the papers in it? It's up in the attic. I think that was where your father kept all those adoption things, and the letter from your biological parents and nonsense like that." The woman she used to consider her mother said with boredom in her voice. "There is a letter from my parents!?" Rina yelled with the mixture of joy and anger that she wasn't told about it before. "Yeah, yeah, some boring sentimental stuff, and maybe a name or something. I don't remember, I just know it was there next to you when we found you. My dear Ronald wanted to keep it so that he could show you one day. Now can you please leave me alone, my TV show is about to start." Lost for words from both anger and pain, Rina did as she was told. She ran to the attic and found the brown chest that her father used to say was where he hid his treasure. Hugging it tightly she carried it to her room, thinking that he was telling the truth. The regular looking chest hid the treasures that were only worth something to her and at first, all she could do was just stare at it in awe. Finally, she opened it and soon enough one thing became clear. She was wanted and loved.