Orphanage 5

She guided him to the main door of the building. She tapped a card, then a click, before she pulled the door open. The front door led to a long carpeted hallway with a large sitting room. Photos of the years spread along every inch of the wall.

Isabella led Darren to the last room at the corner of the floor.

Darren was familiar with the warm colors of the living room furniture, only enhanced by the bare red color of the wooden walls. Vibrant colors of reds, yellows, oranges, and browns of the room were all represented in the handwoven shag on the floor and the tapestry on the wall. Photos cluttered the side table like a shrine of all the children Isabella had taken care of over the years. A photo of Darren and Tora in their graduation cap and gown were among those on display.

"This is my own apartment. No one is allowed in here," she said. She brought a small tray from the kitchen with two cups of coffee with some sweet snacks. "Sit down."