married?

My eyes opened instinctively, and even if the sunlight didn't enter my eyes, I would still have woken up early.

.

Courtesy of Linda.

For a split second I wondered where I was, and why my bed all of a sudden was comfortable.

I quickly jerked up in a moment of panic and looked around, lost for a bit. Then it all came rushing back; my parents. . .my home.

With a huge smile I bounced back on the bed and began making a. . .bedsheets angel? Whatever. But it was fun.

.

I had about six fluffy pillows, all on one big bed!

I got out of bed to open the curtains, and wow! The city with dew over it was beautiful. And I was viewing it from upstairs.

I went back to my bed and dressed it, admiring the white under sheets, the light blue bedsheets and the dark blue bedcover.

Blue– my favorite color.

Of course they'd know– they're my parents.

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I giggled a little and decided to explore.

The room was wide, and spacious, but not awkwardly so. My bed was practically in the middle, with miniature white drawers on either side, and a lava lamp on one of them.

At a corner directly opposite the bed was the dressing table and chair. A huge mirror was attached to the wall in front of the seat, and I went over, sat and smiled at myself in the mirror.

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"Can you believe this?" I asked.

The girl in the mirror shook her head.

"What, you're crazy then. I mean finally. . ."

"Yeah yeah, I know, you've found your parents, yada yada yada," the girl in the mirror said with a roll of her eyes.

I frowned at her. "Don't you dare try that attitude with me because I—-"

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I suddenly burst out in laughter. I'm talking to myself! All because of a mirror.

I went into the adjoining door, which was the bathroom. And boy, what a bathroom!

It was all tiled white, and a big bathtub by the wall.

I became excited to take a shower.

But before that, I got out a few of my stuff and laid them in the wardrobe which was empty.

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I paused at my memory box, opened it and took out the small blanket, squeezing it to my chest for an emotional second, then stuffed it away and went for a bath.

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I was running my hand through my hair when a knock came.

"Please come in," I said.

Mom opened the door and entered. She was already dressed in an indigo cotton shirt and black flare pantsuit.

"Good morning mom," I said and blushed a little.

It's been a while calling someone that.

She smiled, took my face in her hands and kissed both my cheeks.



"Hope you slept well?" she asked tenderly, and I almost melted.

"Yeah, like a baby," I replied, and she smiled.

.

"If you're done, we're having breakfast now. Come on down, and after we'll take you on a house tour and talk a little. You know, cover old grounds."

That was a rather strange way to put it for some reasons, but I nodded.

"I'm done."

As we walked downstairs, she said, "I'm sure you noticed your wardrobe is empty. Maybe after breakfast and the talk you and I can drive over to the mall to get a few things for you; some clothes, shoes. . .a few things," she repeated and flashed me a smile again.

"Su…re," I drawled. Though the prospect of shopping didn't really excite me.

Call me paranoid or whatever you will, but I just had this nagging feeling that they were hiding something from me.

This was confirmed when we descended to the dinning, where dad sat making a phone call which he hurriedly dropped when he saw me.

He offered me a smile, and I returned it.

"Hi, good morning dad," I greeted.

He kissed my cheeks too.

"Morning, sweetie," he replied, and we all settled down to breakfast.

There was toast, beverage, omelette, custard, jam, and a some apples.

My eyes widened at so much food that I didn't know what to do.

Dad noticed, and carefully filled my plate.

"Eat up," he joked, and I chuckled.

"Thanks."

It all tasted good, better than anything I've ever eaten. They were silent through out breakfast.

After breakfast, a lady I didn't even notice came in and began clearing the table, while we retreated to the living room.

And it was wow.

We settled down on the settee, mom and I on one, and dad on a single sofa.

I waited for them to speak.

"Sweetie," dad began, "You probably don't know how happy er are to find you. After eighteen long years."

"Why did it take so long?" I couldn't help but ask. "I mean. . ."

"Yes, we know what you mean," dad said while mom smoothed my hair.

"You. . . you were taken from us. It was after you were born. Your mother was to stay at the hospital for a day for checkup. I had gone home for food and a change of clothes, and your mother was too weak to notice anything. By the time I returned, you were gone."

"Gone? I don't understand."

He cleared his throat. "We weren't as wealthy then as we are now, so we couldn't pool the resources to look for you."

.

The story didn't make much sense.

"Then the nurse told us that someone had come to retrieve you, claiming to be a relative. That he had gone to the infantry to check the baby while your mom was assisted to dress. He never returned. I rushed home after that, alone, to see if the story had hold. But. . . the house was burning down. I still broke in, hoping. But it was too late. The person was gone. And we never found who ever it was.

.

" Your mom and I were devastated. We relocated, and dedicated everything to finding you. There were no leads. It all stayed silent. Until ten years later. We had a lead when we stumbled upon an old news paper dated about two years after your birth. Baby for sale; baby trafficker caught in the act. That was all, but there was hope. You were alive. We put all effort into finding you, and three years ago, I made a lucky break at work. That was when we put out the first ads, and the rest since then."

I sat still tears brimming my eyes as I thought of what they went through….

I threw my arms around mom first, and dad later.

"Thank you," I said.

I didn't know about the posters or ads because I was always locked inside by whoever was fostering me.

Mom cleaned my tears.

"its in the past now. Let's leave it there."

"Yes," dad said, getting up. "And now, if you will excuse me, I'll have to get to work." He kissed my cheeks, and mom too.

"I'll be back early today so we can discuss with Anne."

"Discuss what?" I asked with my brows furrowed.

"In the evening," dad said, and went out.

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I turned to mom.

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"Mom….what?"

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"She laughed. " And I've just discovered that you're nosy. Now come on. A tour of the house, some shopping, and we might just get to know each other better."

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I knew she was dodging the topic, but I went along.

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I'll find out in the evening.

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We finished our tour.

The house was big, but not really, with just one floor.

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And there were a few fields and flowers.

It looked new to me, and when I asked mom, she said that they'd bought it recently.

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"Mom, isn't this all too much?" I whispered for the umpteenth time since the three hours we've been in this boutique, being the fourth we've come to.

"Hmm," she responded distractedly as she skimmed a green dress. "This is pretty, it's good for summer or sunny weather, right?"

"Why would I need a—"

"Mmm, and I think that should be enough. We have to go now. Peter will return soon."

"Finally," I smiled and took the bags to the car, and we drove home.

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#An_Hour_Later

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I took a spoonful of soup into my mouth and chewed slowly, oblivious of the tense atmosphere in which we were sitting at dinner.

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Dad kept his chin on his knuckles and mom toyed with her food.

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Well, I was hungry, so. . .I didn't bother.

I mean, not eating well for sixteen years does something to a person.

This dinner won't be enough.

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"Anne," dad called.

I looked up, still chewing.

"About what we wanted to discuss with you. . ."

I was still eating, nothing seemed more important than dinner.

And then they dropped the bombshell:

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"You're getting married."

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I spat out the water I was drinking on their faces.

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"WHAT!!"