It wasn't too bad being there. There was roof over our heads, food to eat, and a bed to sleep.

We haven't been in the orphanage for very long. It has been about a week dad died in that accident. I still remember the phone call we got from the police telling us what had happened. It was heart breaking to tell the boys. I had to be strong for them.

I thought that maybe one of our relatives would take us in. Maybe we could still be a family. Maybe we could still be happy.

How wrong I was.

Our family abandoned us and left at the orphanage. They took all of our inheritance and left us all on our own.

The first days were not very pleasant. We were still grieving and my youngest brother was taking it very hard. He never met our mother and now dad was gone to. He was too young to suffering this kind of pain. As for my other brother, he stayed calm through this whole thing. I almost thought he didn't care about what had happened. He was good at hiding his emotions, even from me. He did his best to comfort the youngest of us three. It seemed to me that he handled our younger brother better. I don't know why, but they always did get along very well.

It didn't take us to long to settle into our new home. We got used to their routines and procedures quickly. We didn't really like it there, but we did our best to stay positive. The people there weren't bad to us, but it was nothing like home.

My brother usually played chess in one of the classrooms in their free time. It was amusing watching the two play, though the older of the two would always win. He was very intelligent for his age. Some people even go far enough to call him a child genius, though I don't disagree with them. Even when he always won, he would tell the other that if he just tried hard enough, he might win. It was comforting watching them have fun, even after all they had been through.

As for me, in my spare time I just sat out side under the large tree in the courtyard. I like to watch the other kids play and have fun. I was the only teenager in the orphanage, so I didn't really have anyone to talk to. The younger kids ask me to play with them once in a while, but I don't accept their requests. I just liked to watch them. Some ask me to read stories to them or help them with something. I always agreed to this. Since I was the oldest, I was like a mother to most of the kids. The adults that were there helped and all, but the kids preferred it if I helped them.

I still remember the day my life changed.

I was sitting under the tree like I usually did when I saw a strange little boy. I would have remembered someone with that kind of hair at the orphanage. Maybe he was new. I didn't really know.
He had the oddest hair. It was red at the top, black in the middle and blonde bangs that flared our in different directions. He had these violet eyes were like none I had ever seen before.

The boy looked like he was lost. Even so, he didn't go up to anyone. He looked like a nervous little puppy. It was amusing but I so got up and walked to the boy.

"Hey there kid, are you lost," I asked the boy with a kind voice so I wouldn't frighten him.

He looked at me and I could see the fear in his eyes. I crouched down so I was at eye level with him.

"Its alright, I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to help."

He kept staring at me and finally he said, "I'm not lost, I'm waiting for my mother." His voice was as soft as kitten.

"Your mother? So you must not live here. No wonder I haven't seen you before."

"No I don't. My mother comes here sometimes and I come with her. I haven't seen you here so you must be new." His answer was almost inaudible.

"Yes I am. I came here with my two younger brothers."

"You have two brothers?" He looked at me with curiosity and his voice raised a little.

"Yes I do," I chuckled, " Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

"No I don't," he said sadly.

It sounded as if he was very lonely. I don't think I could ever be an only child.

"Oh, I almost forgot to ask you what you name was kid," I said.

"Oh, well my name is Yugi." He answered as if no one has ever asked him that question before.

"Its nice to meet you Yugi. My name is Marianne."

After that we just started talking about random things. Yugi told me about his love for games and I told him about my love for my family. We talked for awhile and as time went by, Yugi opened up more. He began to laugh and he started talking above a whisper.

"You remind me of my brother you know. You two are alike in so many ways," I told him after we had talked for some time.

"Really? How? You said your brother was smart and strong. I'm neither of those things," said Yugi in a questioning tone.

"Don't put yourself down like that. You are both of those things. You may not know your full potential yet, but it is there. You just have to find it. Anyway, being strong isn't everything. Being kind and caring is important to. You are kind to everyone you meet. My brother is only kind to those he trusts. That is the main difference between you two, not to mention his ego."

We both laughed and continued to talk. Soon after, a petite woman walked up to us and tapped Yugi on the shoulder. I guessed that she was her mother.

"Come Yugi, its time to head home," she told him.

"But Mother, I want to talk to my friend for a little longer." He looked at her with his eyes wide and pleading.

I could tell that his mother was surprised to hear this. I guess she hasn't heard him say that in awhile.

"I'm sorry but we need to go. You two can talk again when we come back."

Yugi looked disappointed at this but didn't argue. He stood up and looked at me again. He turned and gave me a hug. I wasn't expecting this but I returned it. I grew close to the kid while we were talking and didn't hesitate to show it. I could tell his mother was even more surprised at this but she didn't say anything. Yugi let go and walked toward her with a smile on his face.

"Yugi why don't you go to the car. I wish to speak to your friend," said Yugi's mother once he got to her side.

"Alright mother." I could hear the disappointment in his voice but he did as he was told.

As soon as he was out of ear shoot his mother walked up to me. She was a little shorter than I was. Either I was tall for my age or she was short, but I didn't say anything about that aloud.

"I just want to thank you. I haven't seen Yugi that happy in a long time. It really makes me happy to know that he has a friend."

"It's alright. He's a good kid. He deserves to have a friend," I said with a cheery voice that I hadn't had since I came to the orphanage.

"Well I need to be heading out. Yugi is waiting for me. I am very grateful for everything you have done today," she said as she turned toward the gate that led to the outside world.

"It was nothing, I really enjoyed being with him today."

With that and a wave good-bye, she was out the gate and headed back toward her own home.

After that I went back to the tree that I usually sat under. I thought long and hard about the things that happened today. Yugi was a good person to hang out with. Actually, I wouldn't mind living with him. But, I don't really know if they would even be willing to adopt someone.

But what about my brothers?

I just can't leave them here. I told them that we would always be a family. It would be painful to leave the only family I have left. They would also be sad if I left them for another family.

But the question is, do they really need me. I have always asked myself this question. They are smart kids and can take care of themselves. They have always been very independent, even before all of this happened.

Yugi on the other hand, well, he was just not as confident. He really needs someone to be there for him. He has no brothers or sisters, and from what I heard, I don't think he has any friends either. I think I am the closest thing he has to a friend. My brothers have each other.

I knew I would have to face the facts sooner or later. It would be nearly impossible for three kids to be adopted by the same person. The chance that we would even be near each other is pretty slim. The only problem would be telling the others about this. They would be upset with me for even doubting staying together. They promised that they wouldn't be adopted if the other weren't included.

I'm glad I didn't make that promise. I'm glad I don't have to break that promise.

After thinking to myself for awhile, the bell for dinner was rung. I went to go get my brothers and we went and ate together. Afterwards we went to our rooms (my room was separate from the boys and I had a room to myself) for the night. I barely got any sleep that night. I was to preoccupied thinking about the events of today and to what they may lead to.

The next morning I got up and went through the usual routine: Get up, get my brothers up, get ready for the day, eat breakfast, go to classes etc.

But this day was different from the others.

During my first class of the day (It was just me since I was the only one in my age group), I was called out by one of the orphanage "moms."

"Marianne, the interview director wants to see you," she told me in a pleasant tone. I nodded and started walking to the front desk.

I wonder what they could want. I didn't do anything bad. Did I? I think I would remember if I broke a rule.

When I reached the front desk, the lady behind the counter smiled at me and told me that the interview director would be right with me. Just like she said, the director, Mrs. Reynolds, walked out of her office a few minutes after I had arrived.

"Hello Marianne, I'm glad to see you hear. Please, come into my office. I have something very important to tell you." She said this in a nauseatingly cheery voice.

"Yesterday I talked with someone over the phone. They told me that they were interested in adopting you."

When I heard this, my jaw dropped nearly to the floor. Someone wanted to adopt me? I had a feeling in my gut that I knew who it was. I didn't know how to react so I just kept listening.

"She said that after talking with her son, who she said you met yesterday, she wants to adopt you. Do you know who I'm talking about Marianne," she questioned me with a stare.

"Yes I do Ma'am," I replied.

"Good. She will be here tomorrow to take you to your new home. I hope you have a good time there." She smiled as she said this. She shooed me out of the office when she had finished her talk with me.

I was going to be adopted. I didn't think it would actually happen. This makes things so much more complicated. What am I going to tell the boys? I hope they aren't mad at me. I can just refuse to go this could be my only chance to leave. Kids my age usually never get adopted, or at least that was what I was told.

I don't know what to do. I'm just so confused. I guess this was inevitable. I just hope they can forgive me. I have to tell them about this now. It would just be more painful to tell them later. I can make it as painless as I possible can. I know they will do fine without me, I know it in my gut. I will know this when I see them again, some time after this is over and they are adopted as well.

But what if my gut is wrong? What if I never see them again.