Magnolia

Chapter Two

Two years had passed since my family died and I still couldn't believe it. In the first few months of staying with Clara, I had the same nightmare. The smoke would encompass us and we'd start to gasp for air. I could see myself trying to save them, only to be left with a burning flesh and lifeless eyes. Every night, I would wake up drenched in sweat. Gloria would let me crawl into bed with her and held me as I cried. After a while, the dreams stopped, and I would spend my nights in the window seal. When Clara did her nightly checks, she would come and sit with me. Even though I had barely said more than a few words since I arrived, she would talk to me anyway.

"I had always dreamed of having children." She said one night as we both enjoyed the beauty of a full moon.

I turned to her, letting her know that I was listening. I actually loved when she would tell me stories about her past life.

"I was married once, ya know. His name was Robert. I met him when I was in high school. We were mesmerized by each other. I married him right after we graduated."

I pictured her, holding onto Robert and smiling the same smile I could see on her face. She would have been wearing a lace, white dress with a halo of flowers on her head.

"We struggled a bit. He was getting his business off the ground and I was working through college. Three years into our marriage, we bought a house and he wanted to try for a baby. I was beyond excited. We tried for so many years..." Her voice trailed off.

I watched her. She seemed to be reliving the memories. There were so many emotions washing over her face. Happiness. Sadness. Grief. Despair. She missed him.

"Eventually, we found out that he couldn't have children. I think that messed him up in the head. He wanted a family. I tried to help him. I told him we could adopt. I told him that it would be alright. He fell into depression, trying to work hard to not feel. He ended up dying of a heart attack. Too much stress."

"I felt responsible. I gave up on my dreams. I moved away from the memories but having children was still in my heart. So, I became a foster mother and here I am. I've had so many children go through this house. They still come and visit me. It brings me joy." She touched the side of my face.

"I hope that you'll come and visit me when you venture out into the world."

I wasn't sure what I would do once I was old enough to leave but I made a mental note to come and see Clara.

                                       ~                                           ~                                                  ~

As the years passed, Gloria and I became closer. She knew me well enough that I didn't have to speak for her to know what I was saying or how I was feeling. Since I wasn't much of a talker, Clara decided to help me learn American Sign Language to communicate. It was a challenge at first but she was patient with me. Gloria would sit in on the lessons too and we learned together.

The other girls had kept their distance and Clara still would have midnight talks with me. When we weren't having lessons with Clara, Gloria would try to teach me how to read. I didn't think of my family anymore. I didn't think of the fire. I didn't think of Johnathon, the firefighter. I was Magnolia the Orphan. I sat on a window seal at night, looking at the night sky. I watched the younger kids when they played outside. I would sit with Gloria as we read together. I listened to Clara tell me of the life she used to have with Robert. I didn't speak. I had become an empty vessel.

"Magnolia." Gloria spoke while we sat on the window seal and watched the fireworks.

I looked over to her. She had worry in her eyes.