As We Are

"I want to be normal," said Nudge as she looked at the pile of teen magazines on the floor of her room. The more she thought about it, the more heartbroken she became over all the things that would be denied to her in life.

Footsteps coming down the hall forced Nudge to stand up and kick the periodicals under her bed. She jumped onto the mattress just before the door opened.

"Hey kiddo," Max said. "Ready for bed?"

Staying with Anne made Nudge feel as though she was close to the normal she longed for. Every night, Max tucked her in before Anne did. Every morning, Nudge ate breakfast and laughed with the people she loved most. She felt safe, yet it wasn't enough to have these comforts temporarily.

"Max?" Nudge began.

"Hmm?" Max asked as she adjusted the sheets.

"I..." Nudge was at a rare loss for words. How could she tell Max about this desire? How could Max understand? Most of all, how could Nudge get what she wanted and still hang on to what she had?

"Is this about those magazines under your bed?" Max cocked an eyebrow at Nudge. Avoiding her gaze, Nudge looked at the stars outside her window. She wished a shooting star would appear to solve everything.

"I know it's not easy," Max said as she too gazed outside. Silence settled like so much debris at the bottom of a snow globe.

"We can't always have what we want," Max continued. Her soft words made Nudge's heart sink. Tears dared to burst down her cheeks, but she commanded them to stay inside, hidden. Max would of added more had Anne not walked into the room.

"Young ladies," Anne declared, "I'm afraid it's time for bed. Whatever you have to say to each other can wait until tomorrow morning." Max whispered a thought to Nudge before leaving.

Anne made her closing day comment and left Nudge to her thoughts. Nudge reflected on what Max had whispered. She always said the right things to soothe everyone's emotional pains.

Content that she had others like her, Nudge went to sleep knowing she was a part of a family where she could be normal by simply being herself.