The Sweet Escape

Chapter 1: New Beginnings

Olivia sat by the window, watching raindrops race each other down the glass. The gray sky mirrored her mood—quiet, distant, and just a little heavy. Three years in this orphanage, and she had mastered the art of fading into the background. No one noticed the girl who stayed silent, the one who did everything possible not to be seen. And that was exactly how she liked it.

Her mornings were always the same: get up before the other girls, dress quickly, avoid any conversations. She moved through her day like a ghost, always keeping her head down and her secrets close. The past was a weight she wasn’t ready to share, not with the other kids, not with the caretakers, and certainly not with Matt.

Matt. Just thinking about him made her stomach twist. They used to be inseparable. He had arrived at the orphanage only a few months before her, and in the beginning, they bonded over the shared understanding of loss. For a while, it felt like they were the only two people in the world who understood each other. But that was before everything changed.

Lately, Matt had started hanging out with the popular kids at school. Olivia watched from the sidelines as he morphed into someone she barely recognized. The laughter they used to share had been replaced by smug smiles, loud jokes, and pranks she didn’t find funny. Every time she saw him now, surrounded by his new friends, it was like a stab to the heart. The Matt she knew had become someone else entirely.

But she couldn’t let that bother her. She had to keep her head low. The last thing she needed was attention—especially now. The secret she was holding on to was too big, too dangerous. She had done everything in her power to bury her past, but sometimes, in the dead of night, the memories would creep back in. The life she had before, the things she’d seen, the choices she had made—no one here could know about any of it.

Olivia sighed and pulled the hood of her sweater over her head, trying to disappear into the corner of the room. The other kids filed out for breakfast, but she stayed behind, waiting until the coast was clear. It was easier that way, avoiding the noise, the stares, and the questions she couldn’t answer.

As the cafeteria buzzed with chatter and laughter, she slipped into a quiet spot near the back, her tray untouched in front of her. She could hear Matt’s voice from across the room, louder than usual, surrounded by his new friends. She clenched her fist, refusing to look up.

“Olivia!” Matt’s voice called out, and she flinched. She hadn’t heard him say her name in weeks.

Against her better judgment, she glanced up, catching his eye for just a second. He flashed her a smile, the kind that used to be warm, familiar. But now, it felt different, almost mocking.

She looked away quickly, her heart pounding. No, she couldn’t get dragged into this. She had to stick to her plan: stay invisible, stay hidden, and survive until she could finally escape this place. It was the only way to keep her past from catching up with her.

For now, that meant avoiding Matt and everyone else who might start asking questions. Because if they found out who she really was, Olivia knew she’d lose everything.