Pietro's POV
As long as I remember, I have always looked out for and taken care of Wanda; after all, I am 12 minutes older than her. I took my responsibility as the older brother even more seriously after our parents died in a bombing, so when she told me that a rich family was going to adopt her, I had to put my own feelings aside and do what was best for her. I knew that she would never want to leave me, I don't want us to be separated either, but if she has the chance to have a better life, it is my responsibility to make sure she takes this chance. So, instead of giving in to my sadness, I tried to act all happy, trying to convince her, that this was the best that could happen to her. I am quite sure she didn't buy it, though; she can usually tell what is really going on with people, especially with me. It did not matter, she was leaving and there was nothing any of us could do against it.
The day Wanda leaves comes too soon for both of us, but I manage to stay strong through this goodbye. I look after the car until it is out of sight, then I slide down the wall and sit on the stairs, my head rested on my hands. There are no tears; I haven't cried since my parents died, but it does feel strange. Until now we have never been separated and the first separation will probably be for a very long time. I try to comfort myself with the idea that Wanda will have a full belly tonight, will be sleeping in a comfortable bed and have a bright future.
When the clock strikes six I get up and get myself ready for the meagre dinner that awaits me. Automatically, I look over to the place at the girl's table, where Wanda usually sits. Her place is not occupied by another girl yet, but I do miss the conversations we had during meals. Of course, we did not really talk verbally, we rather communicated with our eyes and face. I realise that I start missing her and quickly distract myself by throwing a small piece of the hard bread crust at Teo, the boy sitting opposite me. It hits him right in the face and when he finds the little crumb he knows exactly who threw it. Luckily, he isn't someone who likes to tell tales, otherwise I would have been in trouble again. Wanda usually manages to stay out of trouble and even lectures me, when I did something, but I have always had the tendency to act before thinking things through to the end. Of course, this also has some advantages. I am quite good at about every kind of sports, because I don't have to think about what I will do next, I simply act on my gut's feeling.
This way I also saved Wanda and myself the night our parents died. There was no time to think, so I pulled her with me under the bed. Right now it feels different, though. Even though I am sure that Wanda leaving the orphanage was right, my gut says that this was not a good idea. But what choice is there? The only thing I can do is write to her as often as possible and try to make a living for myself, outside of this place, so I can maybe let her live with me. With that in mind, I try to go to sleep. I just hate it, when I am unable to change things.