Alex toured me around the orphanage for a half-hour before dropping me off at my dorm door.
"There you go." He said after unlocking the door and handing me the key. "If you need anything, I'll be around. Feel free to ask me anything, okay?"I nodded. With that, he gave me a firm pat on my head and then disappeared into the labyrinth of hallways. I stared at the blue door numbered '402' for a long time. No other sounds were coming from the hallway and it was pretty dim-lit but well ventilated. The air was fresh and smelled of new wood. I opened the door and walked inside.My first thought: Wow, it's small.It was a tiny room, but it was manageable. The length could be covered in four strides and then the breadth in three. I didn't need a whole plot's worth of space in a room anyway, I reminded myself that as long as there was a roof over my head, everything would be fine.There was a tiny metal bed right beside a window glancing over the city. A small wardrobe stood right next to the door, a nd that was everything else in the room apart from a single lightbulb dangling from the ceiling and a counter beside the bed.I sat down on my bed, which offered some creaks as I did so. The mattress was not as comfy as the one in the hospital but I was grateful that I had one. I laid my head on the pillow which was okay and I stared at the ceiling. A soft wind began to blow into the room through the window and it carried the wooden log smell of the room to my nostrils.What am I to do next? I wondered.As I dove into my thoughts, I started feeling a little sleepy and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep.I woke up with a sudden gasp. Sweat trickled down from my forehead.It's just a dream. I reassured myself. In my dream, I was a small kid in the backseat of a car when the car was hit sideways and I was sent flying towards the opposite window, where I smashed my head against the glass, and pieces of it had stuck to my skull with the blood reddening my sight.Stupid dream.I glanced at the calm evening sky through my window. I wondered how long it'd be before I die out of boredom here.There was nothing to do.I let out a heavy sigh. With nothing to do, I decided to venture out of my room and explore. I locked my room with the key that Alex used to unlock it. I hadn't noticed what I was wearing before I tried to pocket the key. I searched for a deep pocket in which I could slip my keys but there were none because I was wearing simple trousers and a shirt. I simply curled my finger through the keyring and held it safely as I sauntered.Not after walking long, I reached the balcony. It was overlooking spectacular scenery and was hidden away from me by a labyrinth of corridors and no signs telling me where anything was. I approached the end of the balcony and set my palms on the cool and dusty metal railings. All around me were lush trees, which scented the air with the smell of old trees as the soft wind blew. I watched the majestic city skyline change into greenness as I moved from left to right."It's beautiful, isn't it?" Someone said from behind me and I jumped."Whoa... Alex, you scared me," I admitted. "Yeah, it is."He joined me and leaned his body on his forearms on the railings. Still looking forward, he asked me, "What are you worried about?"How did he pick that up? I wondered."School," I replied, feeling like I hadn't revealed the full thing because I in the first place didn't know what I was worried about."Ah, classic." He said, turning his attention to me now, "What are you worried about school?""Like if I do get to go to school from here–""You will.""–then I was wondering how people would treat me. I'm afraid no one will truly stick with me as best friends because of my condition."He didn't take his gaze off me and seemed to consider every word I had just told him."Well then that's their loss," he said, straightening up."What do you mean?""I'm sure you're really special in some way and if they chose to ghost you after knowing about your condition then all I can say is that they're a bunch of jerks and they're missing something in you that no one else has."The essentials of a cliché pep talk: You're really special in some way.I seemed to buy it. His deep voice made it comforting and safe to share how I'm feeling."Thanks," I said."I know you aren't fully convinced on anything and if you'd like to talk about it, I'll be there with you whenever you want.""Yeah, I know, thanks.""I'll see you around, Harris," Alex said as he walked away after patting me on my shoulder, "Come with me if you want me to introduce you to someone here."I didn't respond, and he was already gone. I felt like sticking around the balcony a little longer. After being satisfied (more like bored), I started walking back to my room. As I was walking down the hallway, I noticed something wrong.Is that my room door unlocked? I thought. I couldn't be sure but my gut told me it was. I had locked it before leaving.I quickened my pace and found out that it was indeed my room that was unlocked. I peeped inside and found no one.Strange.I walked inside, still not convinced that I'd made a mistake not locking the door because I had the key curled around my fingers the whole time that I had also got a tiny callus. I checked the small room. Finding nothing, I convinced myself it was my forgetful disorder and I locked the door. Setting the key on a small counter next to the bed, I collapsed onto the bed after turning off the lights.A few moments after I'd closed my eyes, I heard someone knock on the door. "Harris?"My eyes shot up and I walked to the door. Whom could it be?"Yes?" I asked after opening the door to Alex, who looked like he'd run all the way to tell me something. Even in the dim lighting, his face glowed with determination."I've got good news," He started, "Your grandparents arein the lobby and they are willing to take you."