"What do you mean a family wants me?" Julia yells at the 'head master' of the orphanage. "You heard me Julia, you have an interview with a family that wishes to adopt you tomorrow." he spoke softly looking down at the young girl. "No not again, they will take one look at me and run just like all the others!" she yelled turning her back to him before walking into her room. The door slammed shut. "Tell them i don't want to be adopted!" she yelled through the door before falling to her bed with tears covering her cheeks.
The young almost 16 year old girl had been through too much for her age. She was tried of getting her hopes up only to find out no one really wanted her. She was sick of being lied to and sick of being played by parents who wanted a perfect child.
'If they want a perfect child why the hell are they at an orphanage?' she thought to herself, she face buried in her own arms. When she heard the door open she only buried her head further, that was until she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around to snap at whoever it was until she saw those soft familiar brown eyes.
"Janie.." she whispered looking up at the small 7 year old with long blonde hair. Janie just smiled and hugged her friend speaking out "It's going to be okay Jewels." Julia smiled before nodding, it was cute to hear the seven year old talk because she didn't pronoun everything right. Like Jewels, she said Jul-wells. But Julia didn't care she loved this girl with all her heart. Shes the only one who ever cared about her apart from everyone else.
"Janie, I'm leaving night, i can't stay here any longer. I'm sorry.." Julia looked down not sure if her young friend would understand. Janie nodded before grabbing her favorite picture of them out from under her pillow and handed it to her. "Don't forget me," the innocent seven year old grinned. Julia, with tears in her eyes again, took the photo before pulling Janie into a tight hug.
"I could never forget you Janie, i promise," she choked out before closing her eyes tightly to stop the tears. "Shush, Jewels. I love you." She spoke out softly before stroking her hair. This seven year old sure was smart for her age. "You're my family Jewels, Family isnt always blood, but its never forgotten." The seven year old smiled wide with her one front tooth missing.
Julia couldn't help but laugh a little and stroked her cheek softly. "I know Jewels, and when im old enough i will find you don't worry. i will take care of you as soon as i can. You will never be forgotten." Janie nodded not quite understanding but she knew her friend would be back. "i help pack!" Janie cheered before struggling to pull out Julia's old suit case. It seemed a little small now. Back when she was dropped of here it was so huge, but that was 10 years ago, she was only 5 at the time and didn't know any better.
she pinched her nose trying to forget that night before smiling. "Here let me help." Julia said putting the suit case on the bed. They both packed Julia's bag quickly before closing it up.
"I'm going to miss you Jewels. Like a lot," Janie spoke before hugging her waist. "Janie i will never be far, i'm always in your heart and spirit. That i promise, i will write you when i can. But i have to go." Julia hated having to leave her friend, but it was her only choice. Janie nodded before stepping back and looking up at her.
"Get into bed, in the morning they will know i'm gone. I can't tell you where i'm going cause i don't even know. Pretend you didn't know." She helped the little one into bed before tucking her in. "remember i'll love you forever and always." Julia hummed. "Even when we are apart we are never far." Janie finished before Julia stood up.
"You're brave and strong you will be okay. Look after the little ones like i did, they all look up to you now." Janie nodded to Julia's words before she left the room sneaking out the front door. "Goodbye." she touched the door frame, it pained her to leave the only home she really knew. But she needed the truth.
She didn't bother to look back it would of only made things harder, she grabbed her bike and took off towards the islands only port. She had to get onto the mainlands by morning, then they couldn't find her. She blocked her tears and just focused on the stars. She made it to the port and got herself and her bike into a small escape boat on a transport ship. She would be safe here until they arrived in the morning.
Too bad she was wrong, there was a terrible storm that knocked water everywhere. She closed her eyes and covered her ears. "no this cannot be happening! No!" She screaming over the storm the water stopping and cutting the ties to her boat free as it hit the water. Julia hit her head on the side of the boat knocked out. The transport ship quickly sailing away as an old man stood there watching the little boat float away.
"Let all those who lay with the sea be protected by the spirits, she needs a journey worth a tale. Protect her. Protect her." the older man chanted as a mist began to roll in over the small boat a few figures appearing in the mist.
"Take her to a world to reveal her true self, and only then may she return." He made a fist with his dominant hand and put his not dominant hand flat out upwards on top, a fire benders bow. Before he went back to tending to the ship with the crew.
Little didn't Julia know everything she knew would be different now. The spirits circled her as she opened her eyes to see a blurred outline of them before going back out. The spirits tugged the boat into the mist as it faded off into the distance. Her world was gone...