nd noon. Mother left an hour later off to anothe

The girls locked themselves in their room, and me alone in mine, pretending like we weren't f

ng through the window, lik

ggling to see Sister Regina w

Kate whis

slowly in the dark, with the rain beating heavily on her um

aid immediately

tool. With the four of us by the door waiting, sh

, gesturing to her. She skipp

as to stay at the window upstairs, to keep a looko

idea", An

?" Beatr

aiting for her to answer herself. "What? ... Why are you

ed her forehead,

f the stair, turning to Grace, "Grace, could you please stand guard at the stairs

running back

sement, with me in front. I stood still by

alled behind s

u..." Anna placed her

ice echoed behind u

fear. Dianne stood by t

called out soft

" Anna asked taking a step back. Dianne ga

leaving us stuck in the conversation. "Grace's

ts as I turned to the door. Without thinking t

want one of us to go wit

'm sure",

uced drastically; now ending at my waist. I pointed the light from

to the bed, pointing the flashlight at the spot I thought Grace dropped the box

g both my hands into the water. Scared and hastily, my fing

ked closer to the bed, gently placing it. Removing the flashlight from

n my palm. I took one more look a

IC

. My eyes widened as I

small photo, and two h

. I stared at the page title, matching it with th

elt out, My

through them. Most of the letters and words we

heet, reading as fast as I

e papers shocked and heartbroken as tear

t face the world after the terrible incident that brought about my existence, alongside the shame of being removed from

Unfortunately, she wasn't emotionally strong enough to raise me. She left me un

e I was born. "Shalom", was what she wrote. It meant "Peace". I didn't know who named me, and why h

rrible and worthless, seeing as I was nothing but a product of pa

from the door. I shot

he stood a few feet away from me. She dragged her eyes to the open

odd

ed the picture to me and then back at herself, she stared at the picture quietly. It was a pictur

e Sister Gabriella", a weak smile stretched on

as my