Chapter 1

~Destiny~

Destiny walked into her new room, and saw that there was a lot of light in it. In the room, there was a bed, a desk, a closet, and a bookcase. It was better than some places, or actually most places. She would be lucky to have a run down bed and a single closet for her clothes, but this room was different. She noticed that everything was new, and it wasn't because of her new surroundings, but the material actually was new, clean, and hard – so that nothing broke. She smiled – finally, someone seemed to care.

Don't worry, Destiny, they won't care about you in a while. No one does. She thought to herself.

She silently entered the room and looked around it. She put her stuff on the bed and took a circle – first walking to the window to look down to the parking lot where she was left off, and then looked at her desk. It was big, big enough for her to draw on.

"If you need anything, you are welcome to come down," Nicole said.

Destiny looked at her foster mom, her fifth one in 2 years, and nodded silently. She understood what she meant, although it wasn't necessary.

"Oh, and dinner is in half an hour," Nicole continued.

Destiny nodded again. She saw Nicole leave, and then Destiny closed the door. She needed to unpack. At least make yourself comfortable. It's not always that you get such a big room with nice things, she thought to herself. She started unpacking. It was a quick process, a foster child learned quickly that he or she would be on the move and thus, did not need a lot of clothes.

~Nicole~

"She is a quiet kid, Nicole, how are we going to deal with it?" Nicole's husband, Connor asked.

"I don't know, Connor, I really don't. But who can blame her for her muteness? We got her files – do you know how it feels to get your parents murdered, and have to live in five families within two years? I feel bad for her, and I want to do something about it," Nicole explained.

"I know, honey, but perhaps we should just let her go. We had other cases with similar situations, and maybe it's time we stop fostering these kids. It's hard to deal with these situations," Connor said.

"Exactly, and at least I can make it just a little bit easier on her. Please Connor. Let's help this girl, just one more girl, please," Nicole begged.

They were making dinner. It was chicken and rice this time.

"Fine, honey, but this is the final one, okay?" Connor asked.

"Okay," Nicole smiled.

She walked up him and hugged him, whispering a "thanks". She kissed him, and then started making the rice.

"I wonder why she became a mute," Connor said.

"Well, how would you react if you were in her situation?" Nicole asked.

"Hmmm, that I don't know," Connor said.

Half Hour Later

"Destiny! Time for dinner!" Nicole called.

They heard the girl rush down the stairs. She changed from her black shirt to a dirk purple, but still wearing her jeans.

"Did you wash up, Destiny?" Connor asked.

Destiny nodded.

"Would you like to meet your foster brothers?" Nicole asked.

Destiny shrugged.

"Well, it's dinner time, so why not just get it over with," Connor said.

"Connor, don't give such an attitude!" Nicole commanded. "Danny, James, Josephine! Come down and meet the new girl!"

"Would you like to eat something?" Connor asked.

"Of course she will, honey. What type of question is that?" Nicole said. "You are welcome to grab anything. Our dinners are buffet style, but it's family time as well," Nicole commented.

Destiny smiled and walked up to the table shyly.

~Destiny~

The food here smelled delicious. Destiny smiled when she heard, buffet style, for she was served dinner all her life and didn't get to choose what or when or where to eat. She walked up to the table, grabbed a plate, and thought about what to eat.

Don't take too much, but make sure you give the impression that it's good and you eat, she commented to herself.

She hears three kids coming down the stairs.

"What's for dinner?" the girl asked, not even seeing her.

Destiny didn't mind being invisible. According to others, she was always invisible. She wasn't important, according to others, but that already got into her, and she stopped minding it.

"Josephine, don't you want to say hi to the newcomer?" Nicole asked.

"Oh, hey, what's your name?" Josephine asked.

"Her name is Destiny, Josephine. And guys, as you see, she doesn't talk, but even if she doesn't talk, it doesn't mean that we can't include her in all the family activities. She has had a rough life, so we must respect her, is that clear for everybody?" Nicole instructed.

"Yes mom," Josephine, Danny, and James said in unison.

The boys sat down on both sides of Destiny, and she looked around at them and smiled.

"Do you want some chicken, Destiny?" James said.

Destiny nodded, and James passed her the plate.

"I wonder why she can't talk," Danny said to his mom.

"Danny, don't be rude," Connor interrupted his thought.

~Josephine~

To Josephine, Destiny seemed to have a big issue. She wondered why Destiny was a mute, but never really thought to ask for it is impolite. She looked at the girl and smiled. She realized that she wanted to be friends with the girl.

"Destiny, are you going to the high school?" Josephine asked.

She nodded.

"Destiny will be attending the ninth grade this year. And in fact, leading to the subject of school shopping. We will be doing that tomorrow, and Destiny will be joining us to prep for school, which starts next week," her mom instructs.

"Grr, that means waking up early," Josephine complained.

"Oh Josephine, I know you hate mornings, but don't you love your friends?" her father asked.

"I do, but I still hate mornings. What classes will Destiny be taking?" Josephine asked.

"As for that, we don't know. Destiny, if you don't mind, would you write down classes that you would like to take?" her mother asked.

Destiny nodded.

"You can do that later or we can wait until your first day starts, then we can go together and choose your classes, you pick," Nicole said, and saw Destiny nod.

~Destiny~

Destiny didn't mind school, but her worst fears were having the first day of school. She saw the big difference between this family and the other families she supposedly lived in, and it was a good difference. She saw herself smiling more, and Josephine seemed to be a nice person. James and Danny were funny and playful, and it made her want to join in. She could, however, force herself to talk anymore. What if she said something stupid? What if she was judged because she talked?

No, let my art speak to others, if it will ever speak, she thought to herself.

Once dinner was over, Destiny walked to her room. She sat down on her bed, took out her diary, and wrote her day's entry. She realized that this was the first day in years that she liked something, liked the family she was in, and saw just a light of hope.