I check my reflection once more before leaving. I look like I'm off to a Court Case. Oh, wait, I am. I can't believe the nerve of Astra and Neil! Just because I don't want to live with them, (and I never will) doesn't mean they should sue us! I mean come on! Really! Common Sense people!
"Rey! We're leaving!" Poe shouts from downstairs.
"Coming!" I take one last look around my room, worried that I might never see it again, if Neil and Astra win. But if they do, I will never call them Mom and Dad. They will always me Neil and Astra to me.
"Rey!" Poe shouts again.
"I'm coming gimme a break!"
"Will I be able to speak for myself?" I ask.
"Of course." Mom says.
When we enter the Court Room, the tension between my parents and Neil and Astra is so thick you can cut it with a knife. Wait, no. A sword.
We all rise for the judge and sit back down again when we are called. Then Astra get's up.
"My name is Astra McAllister, and I am the birth mother if the child in question." 1. I am definitely not a child. I'm 15. "Her adoptive parents refuse to let us regain custody of her." 2. If I wanted to go with you they would let me. "All we want is our daughter back." Liar. You never loved me.
"Would the defendant of the Damerons please rise?" The judge asks.
I get up. I can see in Astra's face that she knows this is not going to go the way she thinks. "My name is Rey Dameron." I say. "I am the 'child' in question, although I am definitely not a child. I am Fifteen years old. I know that that legally makes me a minor, but I am not a child, and I am definitely not theirs. They are my birth parents, but my real parents the people who raised me, are Shara and Kes Dameron." I see Mom grab Dad's hand.
"Astra and Neil have a unique relationship with my Mom, Shara. They were all close friends. But then, Neil, my Mom's boyfriend at the time, with Astra, her best friend at the time." I take a deep breath. I feel no regret exposing these awful people. I sound like Poe. "They got married, obviously," I continue. "And then they had a daughter. Me. But on the same day I was born," I stifle a sob. Why do I always get so emotional talking about this? I hope Astra and Neil are receiving the message that they ruined me by abandoning me. I let out a tiny tear and look down. "On the same day I was born, they abandoned me. On a swing. At Jakku Park." I look up. I was in the foster system until Grade 3, but I never got adopted until I met Poe." I gesture to him. "He was my best friend, is my best friend, and when his parents, now my parents, found out about my past, they adopted me, and have loved me like their own child. It is an honor to be able to call Shara Mom, Kes Dad, Poe my Brother, and Alderia my Sister. If Astra and Neil do regain custody of me, I refuse to call them Mom and Dad and I refuse to change my name to McAllister. My name is Rey Dameron and I will not change it unless I get married." Mom puts her hand on my shoulder. "And one last thing," I say. "If I did want to go back to Astra and Neil, Mom and Dad would not keep me from them." I sit down and take a deep breath as I calm down. I've done all I could, and now it's up to the judge.
"Is everything in her claim true Mr. and Mrs. Dameron?" The judge asks.
"Yes Your Honor." They reply simultaneously.
"Is everything in her claim true Mr. and Mrs. McAllister?"
"Yes Your Honor." They mumble simultaneously at the floor.
"Excuse me?" He puts his hand to his ear.
"Yes Your Honor." They said, more loudly.
"You said they abandoned you Miss Dameron?"
"Yes Your Honor."
"I am granting your request, I know how it feels." He bangs his gavel three times and we are dismissed. I still have my family. Poe pulls out his phone and sends a quick text, and then comes over to me. He picks me up in a hug and spins me around.
"I love you Rey."
"I love you too Poe. You're the best brother I could ever ask for."
I don't know why, but we stay in the lobby for a little while, then, when we hear noise, we go outside. All of our friends are there, cheering and chanting, and all for me. They're holding a big banner that says, 'Congratulations on still being our Rey of Sunshine!' I want to hug them all but I know who's behind this. I fly at Poe and give him a massive hug.
"You're the best." I say.
"I know."
Then, I fly down the stairs in Finn's arms. "I'm so glad you're still ours." He says.
"Me too." I queeze him tighter.
We parade all the way home, and Finn wraps his arm around me, and whispers in my ear. "I love you Rey."
I put my hand on his. "I love you too."
