Chapter Thirteen!
A week later, Ronnie attended her parents funeral. She didn't want to go at first, but Eric convinced her to go, explaining that she would need the closure. Eric and Annie went with her. Jenny showed up as well, to show her support for her young friend. Ronnie was surprised to find she could not cry at the funeral. Though she had never wanted them to die, she had felt a great burden lifted from her shoulders.
The grief counsellor that Eric had set Ronnie up with to talk to was helping her with the feelings of guilt she was still feeling. But the love of her new family was even more helpful. Matt called on almost a daily basis to talk to Ronnie, to see how she was getting by and he was visiting a lot more as well. Mary spent a lot of time in the backyard with Ronnie, playing basketball and talking to her. Lucy was very encouraging, always telling Ronnie how important she was and how great it was to have her as a little sister. Simon always offered to help Ronnie with her homework and even though he scarcely understood her work, he still tried. Ruthie gave Ronnie a lot of hugs and the twins gave kisses. And having Eric and Annie in her life was her greatest joy; having parents who loved her so much and would do anything for her was so important to her. Ronnie truly loved the Camdens and felt so blessed to have them in her life.
Ronnie finally understood what it was that was missing in her life. Love from a family, and now she had it. She knew she could always rely on them and turn to them whenever she needed help. Eric and Annie had framed the adoption papers and hung them in their living room and everyday when Ronnie passed through the living room to go to school, she saw them and always remembered to say a little prayer.
Thank You God. Thank You for my family. Thank You for taking care of me. I just know that things are going to be alright from now on.
And for the first time in her life, she believed she was going to be okay.
THE END!
