They say if you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes truth.

The alternate ending to Orphan leaves a bit, in my opinion, open-ended in the story. I decided to write another alternate ending, and in doing so, I'd toy with an idea I had. In this story, Leena sustains a head injury in her final battle with Kate. As a result, she has no recollection of what has happened or who she really is. She really believes she is Esther. Parts of the story are borrowed from the original version of the Orphan script. Please keep in mind that this story is formatted as a sort of "flow of consciousness" from Leena after the events of the movie.


I was excited today because we finally got to leave the hospital!

Grandma is going to take Max and me to live with her. Emily told me that she'd still be coming around often for awhile to talk to us and to make sure we're okay. She told me several times that we're very lucky that grandma was able to take us in because we'd be able to continue going to the same school and keep the same friends. Our lives would not have to change too much after all that has happened. This didn't make me feel any better. Why would it? How many girls can say they went through three mommies and daddies? Why can't I be normal?

Keep the same friends? Do I even have friends?

I don't remember much about school or any friends I might have had. When I told this to Emily, she said that going back to school and being around other kids my age would be a good thing. She says that it might even help me remember more about the way things were before, but I don't know if I agree with her. This entire situation seems like a cruel joke that I'm the center of. Why do I need to go through this? Why do I deserve to not have parents anymore? Why do I deserve to have a little sister who thinks I tried to hurt her?

It was pretty early in the morning when Emily came into my hospital room and opened the curtains. The sun flooded into the room and immediately brightened everything. I felt good in that moment because I was excited to be able to go outside, to feel the warmth of the sun on my skin. After breakfast, I quickly got dressed and freshened up my makeup. It's become a ritual for me: I don't even think about it when I'm doing it! It was finally time to go. Everything seemed to be going well, but just as we were walking through the hospital lobby to leave, I had another of those strange things happen to me.

Grandma was holding my hand while Emily carried Max. Two nice men who worked for the hospital were helping carry our things to the car. Everything seemed to be going well until I noticed the large piano in the lobby. There was a small cafe/restaurant beside it where patient family members could stop to get a quick bite to eat. I guess they sometimes had someone come in and play the piano. For some reason, I couldn't stop looking at it. I was drawn to it! Grandma tried to stop me at first, but Emily told her it was alright. I don't even remember walking over to the piano, but before I realized what I was doing, I was seated at it pushing random keys. I don't know why, but sitting at a piano just felt right.

Do I know how to play the piano?

I learned something new about myself from the experience: I DO know how to play the piano! I'm still not quite sure how I did it, but I relaxed for a moment and just let go of all of my worries, my sadness, and most importantly, my anger. I began to play the piano and I don't even remember doing it! My next memory is of grandma standing behind me with her hand on my shoulder telling me that I play beautifully, just like mommy did. Max was standing next to her staring at me, half hiding behind her legs. I guess she realized I was playing the piano. After I finished playing, I just sat there staring at the keys while tears slowly dripped from my eyes. Max continued to stand there watching me.

Why? What is wrong with me?

When Max and I finally arrived at grandma's house, Max spent most of the afternoon crying. Emily spent the day with us, but most of her time was in private with Max. I didn't know, but she also knows how to sign well enough to talk to her. This was lucky because grandma couldn't sign too well. Later that night, after Emily had left, I could tell that Max was very, very tired. She still wouldn't come near me, and every time I tried to talk to her, she just sat there with an uncomfortable look on her face. Her eyes seemed to look right through me. Even though she wouldn't talk (sign) back to me, I had things I wanted to tell her. It was rough, but I had to get them out.

I don't think I was with the Coleman family for very long, but I grew to love the four of them so much. It feels like we had lived together for years, I felt like I belonged there. I hugged Max tightly to me and tried really, really hard to keep the tears from coming out. She just sat there, shivering. I could tell that she was still so scared of me. I just couldn't keep myself from crying. I told Max that I loved her, and that no matter what, I'd always be there for her. I told her that I missed mommy and daddy, and that I'd never hurt her. She relaxed a bit as grandma came back into the room and sat down on the couch next to us.

I held my little sister close and gave her a kiss on the top of her head. Grandma sat there in silence for a long time, but after some time, she pried Max from my arms and brought her upstairs to sleep. When I think about mommy and daddy's house, I can only remember a few pictures here and there in my mind. I don't think grandma's house was as big as our old house, but it was big enough for Max and I to stay there. She had told me during the drive home on that Max and I would have to share a bedroom. After tucking Max in to bed, she came back down and held me in her arms for awhile. I struggled not to cry, but I couldn't help myself from sobbing uncontrollably. She kept telling me how brave I was.

All I felt was pain.

I was so miserable without them all, and it hurt so bad that Max didn't want to talk to me. Grandma told me that Emily had talked to her about Max, and she reassured me that Max would quickly realize that she has a big sister who loves her very much and that her fears about me were all in her imagination. She told me that I'd have to be extra strong for not just myself, but for Max too. I just hope I can be strong enough for the two of us.

I miss you daddy.

End Part Two