Alex and Maggie were sitting across from the head of St. Francis Home for Children going through the final papers certifying them as a good Home before going to see all the children. They've been married for two years now and decided they were ready to adopt. They had both talked a lot about it and were thinking about adopting an older kid instead of a toddler. Being a police officer, Maggie knew the ins and outs of the foster system and once kids hit the age of 12, they are generally overlooked.
"Alright, everything seems in order here. Would you like to go see the children now? They're split between out back getting fresh air and an activity room." "Yes please," they both responded and followed Mr. Williams.
He took them to the activity room and they looked in the room for a few minutes before taking them outside. There were many children at the orphanage with was disheartening to see but they all looked pretty cheerful while playing.
They stepped outside and there were several more children out there. There were more older kids out here but they hadn't seen anyone over the age of 10. They looked around outside for a minute. They were shown both areas because they would then decide which to spend time in today. "So, where would you ladies like to go?" Mr. Williams asked them. Alex was about to say something when she paused. "Where's that music coming from?"
Maggie listened closely, and sure enough, faint sounds of a guitar were heard over the children playing. "Oh, that's Nova. She's thirteen, and she's actually up there in the tree." He pointed up and Maggie and Alex could see someone sitting pretty high in the massive tree. "How'd she even get up there?" Maggie asked him. "She does it every time she comes out here. No one can convince her to come down until they call time to come in. And none of the facilitators are willing to go up after her… Honestly, your best shot at talking to her is climbing it…" It was a very big and tall tree. She was up rather high in a sturdy section, but that wasn't the problem. The problem was none of the branches were really low. The lowest branch was maybe six and a half feet off the ground at best, possibly closer to seven feet.
Alex had a wicked grin on her face when she looked at Maggie who in return just chuckled and shook her head. "I'll think we'll stay out here. We love a challenge." "Alright. I'll be back in thirty minutes. Best of luck."
Alex and Maggie approached the tree. "Babe, you know I hate heights and I'm short…" "I'll be right there with you. Aren't you a little intrigued as to why she's up there?" Maggie grunted but didn't object. Alex circled the tree trying to find the best way to get to the lower branch. She stepped back and crossed her arms, staring for a few seconds longer.
"Here's the plan. I'm going to give you a leg up so you can reach that branch." Alex pointed to the one that was eight feet up. It was higher now that they were standing next to it. "There's a spot that looks like a foothold there, that I can use to get up." Maggie took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Okay, let's do this. Just don't let me fall." "Never babe. You can trust me." Maggie nodded and put her foot in Alex's hand. "On the count of three, you jump. Got it?" "Got it."
"1… 2… 3!" And Maggie latched onto the branch, swinging her legs up to pull herself up. She got out of the way, and Alex came up right after her. They sat on the branch looking at each other and broke out into giggles over the fact they just did that. "Alright, dork, let's get the rest of the way up to the kid. After you." Maggie gestured up the next eight feet up the tree to where the kid was. "You want me to go first just so you can stare at my ass." Alex squinted her eyes at Maggie, failing to hide her smirk. Maggie laughed not denying it, "just climb!"
Alex poked her head up to the branch the kid was sitting on. "Hi there." She stared at Alex like a deer in headlights and stopped playing her guitar. She had long natural bright red hair, almost orange, pulled up in a messy bun, brilliant green eyes, and freckles.
"H-hi." She said. Maggie poked her head up on the other side of the branch. "Man that took a lot of work… I'm Maggie." She stuck out her hand and the kid hesitantly shook it. "Nova." "Alex," she shook her hand and again Nova repeated, "Nova."
"You look shocked to see us up here…" Maggie said as she took in Nova's still shocked look. "I-it's just… n-no one's ever actually made it up here successfully before… Or really tried hard enough. I'm kinda impressed." They both grinned at her and Maggie hopped onto one of the branches so she could face her. "How did you get up here with your guitar? That's impressive."
"It's not too hard. I made the foothold at the bottom. I got up here a few times and then practiced with the empty case, as precaution. Then I did it with the guitar in it. Eventually one of the facilitators bought me a rope so I could tie myself to the tree so I won't fall." She shifted to show them the rope around her waist. "It'd really hurt if I did fall with the rope on me, but it'd hurt more falling 16 feet." "Smart," Alex nodded in approval. "Yeah, well I'm not such a big fan of being off the ground…" Maggie said to her. "I'm not either. I'd probably throw up or pass out if I looked down. Once I tie myself in, I close my eyes or look up the entire time."
Alex raised her eyebrows, "so why climb the tree?" "Reasons." Very cryptic of her to say, but they both let it go. "What were you playing? It sounded really pretty." Alex asked. "Oh, really it was nothing."
Alex squinted her eyes at her. "How come you answer all my wife's questions but not any of mine?" "You ask the hard ones. But I just answered one of your questions." Maggie snorted at that. "She's got you there babe." Alex huffed but was rather amused by it all.
"I'd love to hear you sing and play… If you'd be willing to." Nova eyed them carefully. Alex and Maggie patient under her strong gaze. They could tell this was something she kept private, if the tree was any indication of that. Nova looked down at her feet. "How about we talk some more and you can decide while we talk?" Maggie offered. Nova nodded.
"It's nice being up here. There's a breeze that you don't get on the ground. It's nice to be away from everyone and watch clouds roll through the sky. It's my space that no one else comes to. The night sky is cool too, but we're not allowed out often to see it after dark." Nova looked at them with a light smile which they mirrored. "I personally prefer looking at the night sky," Alex said. "I used to do it with my dad a lot. I like looking up seeing the different constellations and galaxies. I like knowing there's others out there."
Maggie raised her hands in defense, "I like hikes, but I'm not a stare-at-the-sky kind of person."
"How long have you two been married?" She asked them. "Two years." Alex answered her. "And we've got two adorable fluffy dogs that act like teddy bears." Maggie added in. Nova was quiet for a second and then asked, "why do you want to adopt? Why not have your own kid?"
Alex and Maggie looked at each other. Maggie answered, "because we've got a lot of love to give and a loving and supportive family who knows more about loss than any family should. We know from experience that blood doesn't make a family. I've been alone, and I don't want anyone to feel like that, especially a kid. We'd bring everyone home if we could." Alex rubbed Maggie's back soothingly knowing how hard that was for Maggie to say to someone she'd just met.
"Thank you for being honest." Nova said to them. "If you still want to hear the song, I'll play it for you." Alex and Maggie nodded. Nova took a deep breath, hesitated, and started strumming.
The sweet melody of a sad song drifted from the strings.
Look at the stars
Look how they shine for you
And everything you do
Yeah they were all yellow
The lyrics of Coldplay's song Yellow had them mesmerized. The melody and conviction of Nova's singing made them feel what she was feeling. By the time she was finished, the couple felt privileged to have witnessed such raw emotion from this child they had just met.
Look at the stars
Look how they shine for you
And all the things that you do
"Wow…" They both said at once. Nova had a heck of a voice, and it wasn't even as if she had done any crazy notes. It was the most beautiful and also the saddest thing they'd ever heard. I took a lot to convey a Coldplay song like that.
"That was amazing." Alex said in all seriousness. "Can I give you a hug?" The kid needed one after what she just did for them. Alex opened her arms and Nova shifted so she was resting in them and Maggie rubbed her back.
"Children, time to come in!" A voice called from down below. Nova pulled back from them despite wanting to stay in their arms forever and untied her rope. "It was nice meeting you both. You're nicest couple I've met. I like you both." She said this sadly and disappeared down the tree heading inside.
They looked at each other and nothing needed to be said. They just knew.